Over five million people in Germany live in poverty—yet remain largely invisible in public discourse. In a society where many feel economically threatened, the true meaning of poverty—structural, existential, and interpersonal—is often overlooked.
Image gallery
#ARMUTSBETROFFEN
#ARMUTSBETROFFEN
This production doesn't talk about poverty—it speaks from within it. It paints a multifaceted and defiant picture of a marginalized group that refuses to remain silent any longer: Activists from the #IchBinArmutsbetroffen (I am affected by poverty) movement, in cooperation with the University of Duisburg-Essen, have written accounts of their experiences, recounting everyday life and isolation, but also self-assertion and political awareness.
The award-winning director Helge Schmidt, known for his investigative theater work, stages this panorama of voices, stories, tweets, and emotions woven into a dramatic text.
#ARMUTSBETROFFEN (Affected by Poverty) provides a platform for solidarity and engagement with a phenomenon that serves a cynical function in an affluent society: Precarious poverty legitimizes and justifies excessive wealth.
Participating artists
Helge Schmidt
Dates
February 2026
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