TRAUER//FALL

We stumble over memories that had already begun to fade. We stumble over our own bodies, which can suddenly feel unfamiliar.

How can sadness and comfort be reconciled? Where does the anger over a loss reside, and how do we eventually reach acceptance? When something disappears, have we truly lost it – or merely misplaced the memory of it?

The young people of POLYLUX explore, through language, dance and performance, a collective way of engaging with grief and discovering within it something that can move us.

POLYLUX originated as part of a “Kultur macht stark” project and, since 2024, has become the permanent youth theatre club for 13–18-year-olds at the Schauspiel Köln. Drawing on the participants’ everyday lives, perspectives and questions about society, the group collaboratively develops and stages theatre productions.

The young people write texts, create scenes and devise movement sequences, resulting each year in a new work focused on different themes.

These productions are included in the theatre’s programme and are presented both as morning performances for school audiences – accompanied by workshops – and as part of the regular evening schedule.

POLYLUX aims to provide as safe a space as possible, in which young people can experiment with artistic ideas, explore physical forms of expression, engage in political discussion and develop personally at their own pace. The youth club opens its doors to new participants each year.

With

Sage Bongard, Amélie Bos, Siyana Boukari, Bilge Cin, Hannah Finkernagel, André Frey, Lilian Friebe, Martha Hellenkemper, Manjusha Hirschberg, Ari Kraegeloh, Lotta Schablitzki, Katja Schäfer, Hilde Wawro, Abas Zafarzai

Dana Khamis, Judith Niggehoff – Direction

Hedda Ladwig – Stage

Nele Henrich – Costumes

Sage Bongard, Ronja Simon – Assistant direction

Stanislav Semeniuk – Lighting

Britta Tekotte – Vocal training

Elias Bodemer – Video