Shipwreck

A grotesque play with puppets on the high seas

A fisherman in distress, a desperate sculptor, petty criminals on the run with no petrol, a surveyor far from the shore, a parcel delivery driver with no address, lovers who keep missing each other – they are all united by the courage to set out and the tragedy of failure. Yet they are never alone: spectators are always nearby, sometimes visible, sometimes invisible, on and in front of the stage. For watching is not a neutral act. Those who watch are part of the shipwreck.

Inspired by the work of the same name by the German philosopher Hans Blumenberg, actor and puppeteer Marc Schnittger presents a spectacular panorama of human misfortunes. »Shipwreck« recounts passionate, funny, touching and sometimes tragic events from real life. One wins or loses, is over the moon or heartbroken, misses opportunities or unexpectedly discovers new possibilities. With meticulous craftsmanship, great skill and a passionate joy in performance, Marc Schnittger and his team combine human gestures and figurative simplicity to create highly sensuous theatre. Yet the production is neither overly sentimental nor heavy with meaning. Astonishingly lifelike characters make this production a thrilling experience.

»Shipwreck« is a co-production by Marc Schnittger and the Bühnenwerk e.V. association, and is supported by the Office for Culture and Continuing Education of the City of Kiel and the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research, and Culture of the State of Schleswig-Holstein.