Europe trilogy

Graz’s Theater im Bahnhof explores 14 cities

The TiB team explored European cities

(Bild: Helene Thümmel)

The spring program of Graz's Theater im Bahnhof is based on an unusual concept. The members visited more or less well-known European cities individually or in small groups and processed their impressions into three theater productions for the time being.

The members of Theater im Bahnhof experienced blind dates with European cities in the first two months of this year. Their destinations were determined by a sophisticated system. The map of the Graz lines was projected onto a map of Europe and the city corresponding to the stop near the home of the respective TiB member was visited. This could be Kaunas, Leipzig or Strasbourg, or even Ostrava, Valkenburg and Vade Havet.

Fourteen experiences
14 cities in the east, north, west and center of Europe (no TiB member obviously lives in the south of Graz) were visited and 14 very different impressions were gathered. The focus was less on tourist experiences and more on the question of commonalities, divisions and the original dream of a united Europe.

For Heike Barnard, Helmut Köpping and Rupert Lehhofer, the trip to Kaunas in Lithuania was an oppressive experience, as their route took them along the largest concentration and extermination camps. Monika Klengel, on the other hand, was struck not only by the many industrial monuments and prefabricated buildings in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, but also by the many statues of virile workers. Beatrix Brunschko and Jacob Banigan were struck by the excessive cleanliness and unbelievable control of nature in Valkenburg in the Netherlands.

Witches and punks
Elisabeth Holzmeister was interested in witches and emigrants in the Danish national park Vade Havet. Martina Zinner learned blueprinting in Erfurt, while Johanna Hierzegger followed in the footsteps of a GDR punk legend in Stuttgart.

Many had to realize that January and February are not necessarily the ideal times to travel, with constant rain and freezing cold often being mentioned during the presentation of the project. The fact that they did not choose their own destination was also somewhat of a challenge. Nevertheless, no one would want to miss these experiences.

Three premieres and a marathon
A trilogy is now being developed together. Part one is dedicated to the cities in the East under the motto "Who should pay for it?" and premieres on April 12 at the Quartier Theater im Bahnhof. Part two, starting on April 26, asks the question "Are we still together?" and deals with the cities in the center. And part three is on the program from 10 May under the motto "The water is rising", which can also be understood figuratively. All three parts in one day can be experienced in a marathon on June 2.