When Britain voted for the Brexit in 2016, young Europeans were hit especially hard emotionally. Facing exit scenarios such as “Frexit”, “Czech-out” and “Nexit”, many in the so-called “generation Y” suddenly felt highly insecure about their European identity. Escape Room Europe explores the current political tendency of EU-exits and Europe-scepticism through a participatory audio installation.
STEREO Akt (Budapest) and hannsjana (Berlin) have transformed the rooms of Collegium Hungaricum Berlin into escape rooms. Guided by an audio play, one moves alone or in small groups through the floors to experience playful associations of a “soft exit”, “hard exit” or “dirty exit”. Leaving and goodbye scenes are mixed with reflections on the bureaucracy of EU regulations and poetic visualizations of customs procedures. Personal memories of growing up in the EU or an EU entry during adolescence are addressed together with moving borders and lost in translation experiences.
This performative maze has the paradox of collaborative necessity as well as a contest of egos and interests. Will you find your way out?
Participating artists:
Laura Besch, Márk Bartha, Martin Boross, Alice Escher, Jule Gorke, Julia Jakubowska, Lotte Schüßler, Katharina Siemann, Gábor Thury, Imre Vass, Marie Weich
Curator:
Léna Szirmay-Kalos, Collegium Hungaricum Berlin
Producers:
Jule Gorke, Lotte Schüßler (hannsjana)
Edina Schőn (STEREO Akt)
Artistic directors:
Katharina Siemann, Marie Weich (hannsjana)
Martin Boross (STEREO Akt)
Production assistant:
Eszter Kádár
Supported by:
Change of Scene – International partnerships for the Performing Arts
Collegium Hungaricum Berlin
The project was funded within the framework of Change of Scene, a program of Robert Bosch Stiftung and the International Theatre Institute.
