#PLATTEN#SPIEL#BALL (working title)

The Brandenburg district, located on the outskirts of the booming town of Eberswalde, has had an eventful history. Once a modern and popular development area in the former GDR, it was increasingly abandoned and neglected in the 1990s due to industrial closures. Now inhabited by marginalised groups, the district is characterised by poverty and social tensions. This is where the Kanaltheater (sponsored by the Barnim Uckermark Civic Foundation) comes in with its participatory approach as part of the LOKAL programme, having been developing large-scale theatre productions based on regional issues in direct exchange with local residents, from foresters to craftsmen, since 2013. The core of its work is being on site and listening. This has enabled them to build a foundation of trust with the local community, encouraging them to take responsibility for themselves and their district through collaborative artistic projects. The Kanaltheater focuses on long-term relationships; the goal is not a one-off project, but rather to establish a lasting connection.