A woman doomed to die tells stories. The art of storytelling is the only thing that guides her through the labyrinth of her doom. In the stories she tells, it is most often stories themselves that redeem a life.
(The Physics of Sorrow – Georgi Gospodinov)
Caught between German bureaucracy—“You have no documents that allow for an extension of your right to stay. There’s nothing I can do about that”—and calls from her worried family—“Don’t come back to Iran. It seems as though you’ve completely forgotten your life here”—Scheherazade has only one weapon: stories. From them, she builds a labyrinth into which she gradually leads the official in charge. Talk, talk, talk—so that he gets tangled up, loses the thread, forgets the documents. Stalling for time until the office closes. Getting one more appointment—“truly the very last one”—fighting for another week in Berlin.
Hanik Soleimani and Marianna Wicha combine the narrative structure of *One Thousand and One Nights* with autofiction, original music inspired by Byzantine melodies, and the techniques of contemporary puppetry. A blend as wild as the stories one must tell to survive.
On September 20, a concert by Jigaraki—Hanik Soleimani’s band featuring Elèni Mik and Nafsika Gkotzamani—will take place against the backdrop of the “Zai el Lila” set.
(In German and English spoken language, with songs in German and Farsi.
With English surtitles.)
Additional information
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible.
- Various seating options.
Content Notes: Mild references to drug addiction, drug use, migration, power struggles, manipulation, and racism.
Dates
September 2026
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