The Invention of Sitting

In its new climate-neutral production “The Invention of Sitting”; the Theater der Jungen Welt of Leipzig wishes to explore what sitting in the future may look like and what it has to do with the climate.

While kids at school are supposed to learn to sit still, many adults complain about aches and pains. Is sitting the culprit? Do we all sit too much? And do those who sit a lot also have to heat more? These questions touch on subjects far beyond the physical act of sitting. This project combines the performative posture of sitting at work and everyday life with a resource-oriented examination and transformation of the production conditions in the cultural sector. In a two-week workshop series, children will learn how sitting aids will have to be made in the future, how they could be designed for easy storage, and maybe even be composted and eaten.

Based on the ideas and perspectives of children in elementary and special-needs schools, the play will be developed together with theatre pedagogical staff in cooperation with a school. At the same time, the organisers will test various possibilities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the production process. The biggest challenges facing this project include climate-friendly set construction, costumes and the energy supply. With respect to using recyclable materials, the project will receive professional support from the Leipzig organisation Materialbuffet. A climate protection strategy will also be drafted and shared internally with the employees to raise their awareness of the problem.