Weltall Erde Mensch

Janet and Yrjöla are characters from science fiction novels: In 1955, the Polish writer Stanisław Lem with Guest in Space sent a nuclear-powered spaceship on an expedition to Alpha Centauri. The intergalactic journey in the 32nd century lasts two decades and brings with it unexpected encounters, but also psychological stress in view of the infinite emptiness of the universe. In 1975 the progressive visions of the American Joanna Russ appeared, who imagined genderless and rulerless worlds in The Female Man. Despite obvious references to our present, the German edition has so far unjustly led a shadowy existence as the planet of women.

These novels now come together in Universe Earth Man: With them in their luggage, director and author Alexander Eisenach and the members of the ensemble embark on an expedition into the unknown - in search of alternative realities in the cosmos to celebrate the emancipatory potential of science fiction. Because the poetic resources of space - the goal of metaphysical longing, place of encounters with alien intelligences, home of mysterious celestial bodies, unexplored physical phenomena and much more - have receded into the background these days. Instead, commercial interests determine the discourse and the sad promise that the solution to our earthly problems is to be found up there. But how can one venture into the infinite, the unexplored, the unknown without already having the bitter ends of all progress in mind? Perhaps the Raumschiff Theater can reactivate the utopian powers of extraterrestrial travel?