The Divided Child

Fathers have a right to contact. Violent fathers often exploit this right to exert power – at the expense of those who actually need protection. Institutions such as child welfare offices or family courts rarely recognise these dynamics. They perpetuate what should have ended long ago: dependency, control, fear.

The documentary theatre performance “The Divided Child – Feminist Voices on Separation Violence and a System That Fails” is based on conversations with those affected. The voices of the children are always present – children whose safety is not a priority in the system.

Director Heinrich Horwitz gives these stories visibility through an artistic translation. Four performers take up space on behalf of those who often remain unheard, giving them shape and voice: children and their mothers who must survive in a system of violence.

Following the performance, there will be a public discussion with lawyer and author Asha Hedayati and educator, lecturer and author Sebastian Tippe, moderated by Katja Musafiri.

An evening as part of the Open Space “Dara Tûyê – درخت توت – The Mulberry Tree. Feminist Voices on War and Gardens.”

PARTICIPANTS

Heinrich Horwitz (Direction), Katja Musafiri (Text), Valerie Renay (Performer), Lena Whooo (Performer), Oska Melina Borcherding (Performer), Ryke Übermut (Performer)

Katja Musafiri is co-founder and board member of the refugee network Flamingo e.V.
For the play "The Divided Child – Feminist Voices on Separation Violence and a System That Fails", she spent last year speaking with mothers affected by (separation) violence and its continuation through involved institutions, writing down their stories to make the situation visible on stage.
Katja is a journalist and has worked for over ten years in the social media team of "taz", since 2023 as deputy team leader. She also works as a media trainer for NGOs, gives workshops on social media and community management, and advises on discrimination-sensitive reporting. In projects with the association Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen, she advocates for nuanced and diverse reporting on social media and against hate and incitement in comment sections.

Heinrich Horwitz is a director, choreographer and actor. Heinrich has created productions in the independent scene, at various municipal theatres and in the contemporary music scene. Heinrich studied directing and choreography at HfS Ernst Busch Berlin and is a recipient of the Tabori Prize 2023. Productions by Heinrich have been invited to venues such as Staatstheater Darmstadt, Oper Bremen, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Deutschlandfunk Köln, and festivals including Ruhrtriennale, Tanztage Berlin and Ultima Oslo.
In addition to directing and choreography, Heinrich also works as an actor in theatre, film and television. Heinrich holds a permanent directing mentorship at ADK Ludwigsburg and teaches as a guest lecturer at various universities in directing, acting and dramaturgy.
Heinrich Horwitz is one of 185+ actors who signed the "#ActOut manifesto" and is an activist for queer visibility in culture and media, as well as active in cultural policy.

Valerie Renay is a Berlin based, French-Caribbean performer, musician, singer and pedagogue creating music and performance work holding the emotional body at its core. Ever present on the international alternative scene as a versatile artist, her work and mentoring are concerned with notions of identity, our place in society, our spiritual quest and everyday psychosis. Transgressing genre boundaries, Renay explores the ‘in between space’ unveiling a certain darkness that soothes the heart.

Lena Whooo is known as an Afro-German activist, artist, actor and author based in Berlin and New York. Lena’s work revolves around themes such as identity, healing, pain and joy – poetic, political and personal at once. As lead performer in projects like "Old & New" (Cinewaves Production),"Between the Lines" (Met Filmschool) and "21st Century Schizoid Man" (Beyondflix), Lena combines cinematic and performative forms of expression. On stages such as Badisches Staatstheater, Staatstheater Karlsruhe and festivals like TEDx Youth Munich, MELT Festival, LOC Fest NYC, School of Glimmers Bremen and many more, Lena weaves spoken word, movement, expression and voice into intense experiential spaces. Trained at institutions including the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, Lena Whooo stands for an intergenerational, interdisciplinary practice that unites vulnerability and empowerment.

Maria Walser works as a dancer, actress and choreographer. She was a member of the Tanztheater Nürnberg and Tanztheater Oldenburg ensembles. Maria has been working freelance since 2011. She has collaborated with Sergiu Matis, Costa Compagnie, Jule Flierl, Das Helmi, Heinrich Horwitz, Sebastian Mauksch and Prinzip Gonzo. She has presented her own work at the Tanztage Berlin in the Sophiensäle, as well as at Ballhaus Ost and Dock 11 Berlin. She has directed and choreographed for Atze Musiktheater.  Since 2025, Maria has been training as a practitioner in transformative bodywork. She is the mother of two children and lives in Berlin.

Ryke Übermut: Trained in acting in Berlin, followed by studies in Physical Theatre and Devising at Folkwang University of the Arts. After working on various stages in Germany and Switzerland, she trained in fine arts. Her independent artistic practice operates at the intersection of visual and performing arts. She also leads workshops and lectures in devising, acting and physical theatre.

Asha Hedayati: Born in Tehran in 1984, Asha studied law at Humboldt University in Berlin. She has been working as a solicitor in the field of family law for almost ten years, focusing on representing women affected by violence in separation, divorce and protection from violence proceedings. In addition to her work as a lawyer, she trains social workers at women's shelters and women's counselling centres throughout Germany and is a guest lecturer on family law and child and youth welfare law at Alice Salomon University and the Paritätische Akademie for students of social work. As a panellist and speaker, she regularly speaks publicly on the topics of domestic violence and violence against women. Her book ‘Die stille Gewalt: Wie der Staat Frauen alleinlässt’ (Silent Violence: How the State Leaves Women Alone) was published by Rowohlt Verlag in 2023.

Sebastian Tippe is a certified educator, author and speaker focusing on gender equality and violence prevention. He works as a specialist consultant in child and youth welfare and has been involved in feminist boys' work and the fight against sexism and toxic masculinity for many years. In addition to his work as a consultant, he gives lectures, holds workshops at schools and publishes articles on educational and social topics. In 2020, he founded the association SHESPECT – Support for Women Against Hate Speech and Sexism. His book ‘Toxische Männlichkeit. Erkennen, reflektieren, verändern’ (Toxic Masculinity: Recognise, Reflect, Change) was published by edigo Verlag in 2021.

TRIGGER WARNING

The following announcement deals with domestic violence, separation violence and the effects on children. The theatre performance addresses the experiences of those affected and structural failures in the support system. The content may be distressing.

- Performed in German.
- Price: EUR 5.00 / EUR 3.00
- Location: Hall 5 - Berlin Room
- Doors open at 6:30 pm.