Beyond Innocence

At the heart of the project is the artistic collaboration between professional musicians from Berlin’s improvisation scene and a group of actors with and without disabilities. Over the course of nine monthly workshops led by experienced figures from Berlin’s renowned independent arts scene, a collective creative process takes place, culminating in a joint concert.

This radically inclusive improvisation project challenges concepts of talent, musicality, and normality. Against the backdrop of the utopia of a society shaped collectively and equally by all people, Beyond Innocence is intended to be the starting point for a long-term collaboration among the participating artists.

Both ausland and Theater Thikwa have worked over the past three decades to expand the scope of possibilities for artists and audiences. Beyond Innocence is a logical continuation of this program. At the heart of this long-term project are joint musical improvisations by artists with and without disabilities.

A six-month collective working process will culminate in two open workshops on June 19 and 20, 2026, as well as a grand final concert on June 21, 2026 (ausland, Lychener Str. 60). The workshops throughout the project period will be facilitated by Liz Allbee, Kazuhisa Uchihashi, and Ute Wassermann. All three musicians are among the leading figures of Berlin’s improvisation scene and possess a rich repertoire of artistic means of expression. Allbee, Uchihashi, and Wassermann incorporate their experience with collective improvisation processes into the design of the workshops.

Also participating in the final concert are Michael Vorfeld, Sofia Borges, Elena Kakaliagou, and Michael Thieke.

Supported by Musikfonds e.V. with project funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media