Smelling Gossip

The campfire crackles; it smells of smoke, of the forest – sweet and burnt. Stories are told, speculated upon, spun and passed on. But what is in the air here – and what only emerges as the stories are retold?

Together, we light an artistic campfire and cook up a rumour soup: more wood is added, bread on a stick and baked potatoes in foil make their way through the smoke, and smells waft through the air – warm, close and full of anticipation. Stories do the rounds: little observations, claims, rumours. Some change, others stick.

Amidst the smoke, sounds and flickering light, a collective rumour takes shape, sentence by sentence, scent by scent. People do love to pass things on! Yet a judgement is quickly formed.

What does it take to prevent murmurs and whispers from suddenly becoming reality? How quickly does a rumour turn into something that can no longer be undone?

A game with fire exploring social dynamics, hearsay, exclusion and community.

Sebastian Mauksch & Team create theatre as a space for children and young people to experience and explore. Through a blend of acting, text, visual arts, sound and technology, they explore social issues with the audience and invite them to test out their own attitudes and actions.

IN GERMAN