Hoppla, wir sterben! Rheinmetall: Eine deutsche Geschichte
A hundred years ago, right after World War I and the failed revolution of 1918, Ernst Toller put it this way: „Whoops, we live!“ A hundred years later, S.K.E.T. responds: „Whoops, we’re dying!“
In times when it seems like Germany is gearing up for war again, absurdities and strange surprises lurk around every corner – joyful for some, terrible for others. History has offered numerous chances to turn the tide once and for all – away from war, away from armament, away from militarization – but the spark hasn’t caught on yet. After all, Germany is the export champion: war and capitalism, a tightly intertwined tragedy.
S.K.E.T. dives into the chaos of the past decades and this time lends a helping hand to a company: Rheinmetall, one of the world’s largest arms exporters. Hardly any war in the past hundred years hasn’t been supplied with Rheinmetall weapons. Despite advice, despite the passage of time, Rheinmetall has always been in the game.
Credits: Adina P, Robert Rating, Mazyar Rahmani, Mo, Laura, Mÿ Sli, Jessi, Ahmed Shah, Kreshnik G., Katharina Vrubliauskaite
90 min, 12 years and older
Accessibility:
- The play is shown in German spoken language. There are no surtitles, translation or audio description available.
- Wheelchair spaces are available, please register with the visitor service at least one day before the performance: +49 (0)30 24065 -777 or besucherservice@volksbuehne-berlin.de.
Sensory information:
- complete darkness
- loud noises
- shooting noises
- loud music from drums, piano, (contra)bass
- soft background music
- screaming
- fog
- video projections
Topics: The play is about the weapons industry, the history of weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall and about militarism and war in general. In one scene the Nazi era is depicted. In another war experiences are narrated. The play is also about anti-militarism.
Content warning: racism, anti-Semitism, colonialism, displacement / flight, genocide, trans hostility, sexism, ableist language in the text, murder, suicide, physical violence, physical / verbal / emotional violence, gun violence, war, weapons, atomic bomb
