Forest

A little man standing in the woods? On the contrary: a tree is standing on A.’s balcony. Overnight, it seems to have sprung up from a crack, a fissure in the concrete. The municipal garden department doesn’t feel responsible and the forest department soon finds itself unable to cope, for forests are suddenly sprouting up in every European city. Volunteers are wanted to get rid of the vegetation on the Eiffel Tower, and Bambi grazes around in the skyscraper canyons.

The playwright and poet Miriam V. Lesch tells a story that is as absurdly funny as it is affectionate, a story about the Northern European forest reclaiming cities and farmland, without falling into the familiar dystopian clichés of society’s downfall. Instead, the author gives a voice to spruce, birch and beech trees, as well as mushrooms and beetles, which cheer about the new green growth.

Katja Wachter is a choreographer and director who explores movement patterns and qualities in her theatre work; not as abstract constructs, but based on people, stories and emotions. For the production »Forest« (Wald), she works with actors to explore both forms of movement for forestry workers and a dance-based representation of photosynthesis.

The world premiere of »Forest« (Wald) took place in 2024 at Oldenburgisches Staatstheater

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