ADVERTISING
Amy4Eva – by young people for young people
The Young Ensemble at the Rüsselsheim Theatre is turning 18 and celebrating its 18th birthday with a special production of the youth play "Amy4Eva – On the Impossibility of
Rock 'n' Roll in Places Like Jerichow and Such." After weeks of rehearsals, the young talents passionately showcase their skills in an exciting fusion of classical drama and puppetry.
Directed by Richard Weber, who also led the ensemble in 2016 and is known as an actor, teacher, and former director of the Mainz Acting School, Dirk
Laucke's "Amy4Eva" will be presented. A young, fresh piece, originally commissioned by the Darmstadt State Theatre, it is perhaps best described as a road movie. Two teenage friends embark on a pilgrimage to Amy Winehouse's grave in London to commemorate their deceased friend Effe. Laucke, an award-winning playwright, studied playwriting at the Berlin University of the Arts and has written numerous plays that are performed on various stages throughout Germany.
In an interview with Richard Weber, director of the 18th edition of the successful theatre education project, he describes the play as follows:
“For me, the central themes of the play concern life itself: How deep does life go, and the search for fulfillment? What is the meaning of life? With all its adversities, with the deep desire of young people to find their place, their purpose in this world. In ‘Amy4Eva,’ we observe two young women searching for all of this and experiencing things that are not easy to cope with, indeed, are essentially traumatic experiences.” In conversation with the ensemble and the assistant director, it quickly becomes clear that the profound themes of the play have also moved and sensitized many within the ensemble:
“We quickly realized that we would all, to some extent, be immersed in Eva and Amy’s grieving process, even if we hadn’t personally experienced an explicit suicide. We have all been confronted with grief and loss in various ways at some point in our lives, and this was felt directly and immediately during rehearsals for the crucial scenes. Therefore, it was important for us to address the sensitive content directly in the program and publicity materials,” said Lucia Gauss, assistant director and actress.
“However, there’s no need to fear that this evening at the theater will only present grief and loss; quite the opposite! There are countless funny and lighthearted moments, so you’ll be more likely to be part of a rollercoaster ride,” said Luna Frankenberg, a member of the seven-person ensemble.
What makes this year's production so special is the fusion of classical drama and puppetry. Together with renowned puppeteer Hendrika de Kramer, Richard Weber has created a production that portrays the deceased friend Effe in a highly aesthetic and sensitive way: as a childlike marionette who repeatedly appears to the main characters in flashbacks and emotional moments, offering comfort simply through his presence. "That was one of the most impressive phases of the rehearsal process for me," says actor Kiron Westphal. "At the beginning, none of us had any experience with puppetry, but thanks to Hendrika's infectious and energetic personality and her completely attentive approach to working with us, playing with Effe quickly became our absolute favorite moment during the intensive phase at the beginning of the year. Over the weeks, Effe became an equal partner in the performance."
Weber's directorial approach is similar to the working methods of his predecessors: "For me, the most important thing in projects with young people is that the concepts of aesthetics, themes, and ideas come from them themselves, and that we create and experience something together. It's very important to me to see and utilize their interpretation of the plot." A play by young people for young people, then, which premieres on February 11th at 8 p.m. in the main auditorium of the Rüsselsheim Theatre. Another important flagship project of the Rüsselsheim Theatre, reflecting the (young) urban community and its perspectives.
Caution, sensitive content:
This evening's performance will address topics such as suicide and abortion among young people. If these topics concern or frighten you, we recommend watching the performance with someone you trust and staying for the discussion afterward.
The performance lasts approximately 150 minutes, including an intermission. It is suitable for ages 15 and up.
