“The Conference of the Birds” is a great mystical poem of Persian literature, written in 12th century Iran by Farid ud-Din Attar. In the fable, thousands of birds, lamenting the deplorable state of the world, gather together and discuss what to do. After much toing and froing and many excuses, they decide to ask the legendary bird Simorgh for advice, who is said to live on Mount Qaf. On the arduous way there, the birds have to cross seven valleys. Many turn back, many lose sight of their goal, many fall by the wayside. In the end, no more than 30 birds come closer to finding the answer to their questions.
Based on this myth, the youth group Junges Ensemble Marabu sets out on a quest to tackle the most pressing questions of the present. How do we conceive of a better world? Why do attempts at lasting change fail? What prevents us or scares us away from changing our behaviour? What do we need to overcome and leave behind? And are we willing to change our lifestyle if that is what it takes to achieve a just, humane and tolerant society?
An attempt to overcome the obstacles that prevent us from putting our knowledge into action.
“In the latest play by the Junges Ensemble of Theater Marabu in Bonn-Beuel, precisely these existential questions are posed, staged with great playfulness and ultimately resolved in an extremely impressive way. Not least because of this, ‘The Conference of the Birds’ is one of the strongest and most intelligent stage productions of recent years, gripping the audience, making them think and, ultimately, get involved.”
Rhein-Zeitung, 02.09.2019
Invited, among others, to the 2022 festival Politik im Freien Theater, in Frankfurt
accessible to
public | + 14
Venue
Theatersaal
Duration
60 Min.
Theatre
Theater Marabu Bonn
www.theater-marabu.de
Production
Theater Marabu
Artistic direction: Tina Jücker, Claus Overkamp
Costumes and Scenery: Regina Rösing
Ligtdesign: Bene Neustien, Joshua Koch
Performance: Luisa Becher, Melina Delpho, Kai Gerschlauer, Leander Kessel, Heike Kubotsch, Nele Marggraf, Alexander Preis, Sonja Nellinger, Sophia Reifenrath, Niklas Schnell
Expeditions in the animal world
Vorstadttheater Basel, Switzerland | 6+
Directed by: Matthias Grupp