An irritating playground in performance

What does ‘performance’ actually mean – a term that is ever-present in contemporary theatre, and also at the Münchner Kammerspiele? This workshop focuses on performance itself. And on disruption as a performative moment: that is, situations in which expectations are subverted and something ‘doesn’t quite work’. It is precisely here that we can see which rules, norms and power dynamics shape our everyday lives. At the same time, moments of disruption open up new possibilities. They can shift perspectives, interrupt routines and spark new ways of thinking and acting.

The workshop therefore explores performance both as an artistic form of expression and as a practice that is found in everyday life and society. Drawing on the work of performance theorists, we aim to engage practically with the concept of performance and its social potential. Group discussions and reading will therefore form just as much a part of the workshop as exploring the body and the group dynamic. The aim is to experiment with our own performances by the end of the workshop. The focus here is on collaborative work: how does disruption manifest itself in private, social, political and collective contexts, and in interaction with the audience?