Queer Family Album Vl. 1

Queer Family Album is a trans-disciplinary festival that highlights and feeds
itself by collaborative efforts from diverse groups of queer artists. Our
performance series strives to break barriers and imagine utopias for queer
futurities by using a performance-based methodology for queer trans-
disciplinary storytelling. In 2024 our first Volume of Queer Family Album is
taking place at Ballhaus Ost, featuring world premieres from KAy Garnellen
and Yvonne Sembene.

 

Queer Family Album is a diverse group of queer artists that are ever-changing and collaborating to present work and create a morphing space of care where we dare to forge queer futurities today.

Transfigurationen

Christina Kubisch »Silent Dialogues« 2024/UA
Adrian Mocanu »cuando se perdió en el agua« 2024/UA
Miika Hyytiäinen »Emote« 2024/UA
Sagardía »Die Seele besteigt den Thron« 2024/UA
Alison Knowles »Silk Thread Song« 1971. Maulwerker-Version (2008) DEA / neue Version (2024) UA

 

Die Uraufführungen von Klangkunst-Pionierin Christina Kubisch, Miika Hyytiäinen, Adrian Mocanu, Sagardìa, Alison Knowles vollziehen einen Prozess der Entäußerung, der die Zuhörenden durch die polyphone Textur der Stimmen labyrinthisch zu sich führt.

 

Die Maulwerker, Kollektiv für stimmliche Experimente, integrieren Elemente aus Performance Art, intermedialer Kunst und Choreografie in ihre Musik.

HOLY SHIT

Ballhaus Ost on Tour @Culterim Gallery / Rossmann (Brunnenstraße 107, 13355 Berlin)
 
HOLY SHIT is a digital temple, an organism, constantly changing, a movement that makes the internet a more beautiful place. We invite you to rewrite the algorithm of the internet. Our mission: Spread the Beauty! – repost it! We are poetry, satire, pop, artwork, puzzles and swarm intelligence. Join in and everything will be more beautiful. In real life, life is changing. Make the digital real! www.holyshit.vision
 

Evy Schubert is a director, multimedia artist and author and works at the intersection of theatre, film and text. She has realised various productions with the HOLY SHIT team.

  
Website-Launch, Live-Performance und Party on 20.09.2024 
Exhibition from 18 to 22
Performance at 19:30

Ballhaus Ost on Tour @Culterim Gallery / Rossmann (Brunnenstraße 107, 13355 Berlin)

BESSER WERDEN!

The coaching scene is booming – and we can learn to become “the best version of ourselves”. The musical theatre piece gets to the bottom of the neoliberal promise of advancement, obsessive self-optimization mania and omnipresent performance imperative of the affluent society.

Helmitropolis

The notorious DIY theater group made up of ugly puppets and beautiful
people embarks on a feverish journey through time to Berlin in the 90s.
It tells the myth-laden story of an idyll in which the spirit of the future had already
future had already taken up residence unrecognized. In the walk-through production
visitors experience a fable full of slapstick and wordplay with lots of live music and
live music and performances.

 

In »Helmitropolis«, Das Helmi is working with a particularly large and diverse ensemble. In addition to the video collective Institut für experimentelle Angelegenheiten and the performer Tania Elstermeyer, amSTARt – Impressario Ran Huber, the musician Fee Kürten, Michael Wittsack from the Rambazamba Theater and the long-term unemployed theatre group Enttäusche Mich! are also involved. The collective has been producing at Ballhaus Ost in Helmholtzkiez and in many other (public) spaces for many years and was most recently invited to the Theatertreffen with the Zurich Lord of the Rings adaptation »Riesenhaft in Mittelerde«.

ZAPFENSTREICH

In 2021, Chancellor Angela Merkel is stepping down from office. In her honor, a centuries-old military ceremony takes place, which is broadcast live by several TV channels. The European performance group BOYS* IN SYNC reenacts the ceremony, blending it with moments of disruption, queerness, and intimacy.
 

Boys* in Syncund is a transdisciplinary, international performance group (DE/DK/SA/NO) working and researching on the phenomenon of synchronicity in different social and cultural settings. The group has been working together since 2019. In january 2025, they will present their new work InterEuroVision at Schauspiel Leipzig.

Karaoke Party

Let’s have some fun this beat is sick, I wanna take a ride on your disco stick: Following the Zapfenstreich performance on 2.10., Boys* in Sync and Marie Meyer celebrate a karaoke party with the greatest hits and obscurities that their songbook has to offer. From power ballads and Eurodance to the greatest German rock/pop classics and 00s girl pop. There’s something for everyone, because: It should rain red roses for all of us!

Mit Wirkung IV: Mit Uns

Mit Uns is planned as a creative Iftar evening in a relaxed atmosphere. The fourth Mit Wirkung event aims to put into practice the solidarity in the fight against German racism, anti-Muslim racism, anti-Semitism and oppression. Mit Uns invites the public to come together, exchange ideas and feel the power of community. Good music and literary readings will accompany the evening and allow different voices and perspectives on the practice of solidarity to be heard. The event is planned as a Relaxed Event, which means there will be various seating options, a quiet room, stim toys, a soft arrival and previously available information on content and sensory stimuli. If you want to know more about the Relaxed Event, click on Accessibility below.
(Note: Detailed information on the content will be announced shortly before the event).

With Sivan Ben Yishai (Wounds are Forever (self-portrait as the national poet), Wassim Mukdad & Michael Glucksmann (Human Message), Shams Kitchen, DJ Safsufa, Hoyah, Tariq Suleiman, in conversation with Sinthujan Varatharajah (Hierarchies of Solidarity)

Soft Arrival: 
17.30 -18.00 (Iftar at 18:30)
Breaks are scheduled approximately every 45′. Each break lasts 15′.

The Event is part of »Mit Wirkung. Eine Relaxed Veranstaltungsreihe über intensive Themen«.

Mit Uns (معنا)

«معنا» هي أمسية إفطار إبداعية. تأمل الفعالية الرابعة ل«مِت ڤيركونغ» أن تؤسس لممارسة الروابط في الكفاح ضد العنصرية الألمانية ضد المسلمين، ومعاداة السامية، والممارسات القمعية. «معنا» يدعو الحضور لنجتمع سويًّا لنتبادل ونشعر بقوة المجتمع. ستصحبنا في الأمسية أنغام الموسيقى الشرقية وقراءات أدبية، مقدمة أصواتٍ ورؤًى مختلفة عن ممارسة التضامن. 

بدء الوصول: 17:30-18:00
الإفطار: 18:30
مخطط لاستراحة مدتها 15 دقيقة كل حوالي 45 دقيقة.

هذهالفعاليةجزءمن «مِتڤيركونغ: سلسلةفعالياتريلاكسدحولمواضيعجادة»

التذاكر: الحضور مجاني.

مدة الفعالية: حوالي 4 ساعات

اللغة: اللغات الأساسية ستكون الإنكليزية والألمانية، لكن ستتوفر ترجمة فورية بالعربية أيضًا.

اللغة: اللغات الأساسية ستكون الإنكليزية والألمانية، لكن ستتوفر ترجمة فورية بالعربية أيضًا.

Accessibility Information

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, please contact Agnieszka Habraschka. Agnieszka will be present at the event as the Access Person and will assist you with any questions or requirements related to accessibility.

The event happens on the ground floor and is accessible without stairs.

General Information on Content and Sensory Cues

The Mit Wirkung events address German Racism, with focus on antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism in Germany.
Mit Uns focuses on music, readings and conversations. There will be food and therefore smells in the space. Throughout the evening there will be conversations happening at the tables. This means there can be a loud overall noise in the space. The music acts can be loud.

Detailed content notes, sensory stimuli and allergen information for the Shams Table are provided below.

Relaxed Event

The event will take place in a relaxed atmosphere.
Various forms of attention are welcome. There will be tables in different heights, different seating options, sensory toys*, drinks, and food (including gluten-free and vegan alternatives). You are free to move around, participate sitting or lying down, and use sensory toys*. You can take breaks independently and come and go as needed.

Seating Options
Chairs, bean bags, cushions, carpets

Quiet Room
There is a quiet room with bean bags, lying options, blankets, and sensory toys*.

*Sensory toys are small, calming objects such as stress balls, putty, or fidget rings that particularly help neurodivergent people regulate their nervous system.

What is a Relaxed Event?
Relaxed events are based on the format of a Relaxed Performance and aim to provide accessibility, particularly for neurodivergent individuals, people with chronic illnesses/pain, and those with invisible disabilities. In these events, accessibility is not an afterthought but an integral part of the event concept. Just like in theater performances, there are often implicit behavioral expectations at events that make it difficult for neurodivergent people or those with chronic illnesses/pain to fully participate. Examples include expectations to sit still, move little, or not take breaks independently. These conventions can hinder participation for many people. The aim of the relaxed event format is to eliminate these rules/expectations.
Additionally, relaxed formats offer a sensitive approach, especially for emotionally charged or trauma-related topics. At the beginning of each event, we will share various body exercises with you, designed to calm the central nervous system, which you can perform individually or as a group.

Additionally, relaxed formats offer a sensitive approach, especially for emotionally charged or trauma-related topics. At the beginning of each event, we will share various body exercises with you, designed to calm the central nervous system, which you can perform individually or as a group.

Content Notes / Sensory Stimuli / Allergens

Shams Table
Iftar dinner + Conversation around the tables can be in the language comfortable for the participents. The materials will be available in German, English, Arabic
During the dinner, each table will have baskets with questions written on folded paper. Participants can use the questions to initiate conversations at the tables.

Content Notes:
-Discussion of religious and cultural fasting traditions.
-Mentions of specific foods and eating practices.
-Reflection on personal sources of hope and resilience.
-Discussion of current social and political conditions.
-Questioning of safety and experiences of living in Germany

Sensory Stimuli:
-Geräuschkulisse durch Gespräche, viele Menschen sprechen gleichzeitig
-Noise of conversations, many people talking at the same time
-Smell of food
-Ambient music playlist by Dj Safsufa

Iftar-Dinner:

Allergens:

Soup:
-Lentils
-Coconut milk
-Garlic

Main Dish and Sides:

Kabsa:
-Almonds
-Onions
-Garlic

Grilled Potatoes:
-Garlic

Caramelized Carrot and Onion Sauce:
-Onions

Daqus-Sauce
-Garlic
-Red chilli

Salads:

Cucumber Salad:
-Milk yogurt
-Garlic

Fattoush:
-Onion
-Gluten
-Sulfites

Dips:

Zucchini Mutabal:
-Sesame
-Garlic

Baba Ganoush:
-Garlic
-Sulfites

Dessert:
-Gluten
-Cheese
-Walnuts
-Hazelnuts
-Almonds
-Pistachio
-Coconut

Wassim Mukdad und Michael Glucksmann
Instrumentalmusik, kein Gesang

Sensory Stimuli:
instrumental oud and guitar with light amplification

Sivan Ben Yishai – Wounds Are Forever
Reading in German

Content Notes:
-Colonial violence
-References to historical and political conflicts and/or aggressions related to Israel and Palestine
-Mentions of violence, war, and military actions against Gaza
-Descriptions of transgenerational trauma
-References to the genocide in Gaza
-References to the Holocaust
-Mentions of murder, corpses, blood, wounds, and injury
-Strong and sometimes sexual language and emotionally charged dialogue
Discussion of violent displacement, exile, and forced migration of Palestinians
-Censorship in the theatre landscape
-References to bureaucracy and systemic oppression against immigrants in Germany
-Themes of identity, belonging, and national narratives
-Scenes of emotional distress and confrontation between family members
-Depictions of frustration and existential questioning
-Tokenization of Jewish voices
-Anti-Palestinian Racism

Hoyah
Music set with instrumental shofar

Sensory Stimuli:
-Electronic music with distorted and textural/granulated sounds
-Shofar (instrument similar to a trombone) can be loud when played

Sinthujan Varatharajah and Tariq Suleiman – Hierarchies of Solidarity
Conversation in English.
This is an open conversation between Tariq and Sinthujan about demanding/expecting solidarity, the limits and compromises within solidarity, the Palestinian Solidarity movement – allyship and visibility. As this in an open conversation, exact content notes cannot be given. Possible content notes are listed below.

Content Notes:
-Racism
-state/colonial violence
-sexualised violence
-genocide
-deportations
-collective trauma

DJ Safsufa
DJ-Set

Sensory Stimuli:
-Loud Dj Set with very fast and strong beats and multi rhythms
-Can contain singing

Spaces and WC

There is continuous, step-free and level access (incl. kerb ramp) from the street to the building and to the hall with a width of at least 150 cm. The floor surface in the courtyard is slightly uneven.
The event takes place in the hall, which is at ground level.
The hall is entered through a 194 cm wide double door. Then there is a second double door, which has an entrance dimension of 180 cm. The third double door, through which the audience enters the hall, is 136 cm wide.
There is no elevator.
Unfortunately, the bar can only be reached via a staircase on the second floor and is therefore not accessible for wheelchair users. There are 17 steps between the first floor and the second floor.
There is space for wheelchairs or walking frames in the event hall/area and there is the option of reserving a particularly suitable seat and/or entering the hall early.

Accessible WC
There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet on the first floor of the building. Access to this toilet is via the corridor and is 198 cm wide. The entrance to the toilet is 79 cm wide.

How to reach us

The nearest stop is U-Bahnhof Eberswalderstr.
The underground station has an elevator. The subway station is located at an intersection with a lot of car and pedestrian traffic.
From there, parts of the path to Ballhaus Ost lead over cobblestones.
The entrance to the theater is through the archway in the courtyard of the building at Pappelallee 15.

Parking
In Pappelallee there are parking spaces in the public area on the roadside. The theater cannot offer its own parking spaces.

Mit Wirkung V: Mit Media

The fifth Mit Wirkung event is dedicated to the role of the media in/and repression in a relaxed atmosphere. Starting with a film screening and accompanied by experts from the fields of film, media and journalism, the audience is invited to reflect on the use of media in current social and political conflicts. The event is planned as a relaxed event, i.e. there will be various seating options, a quiet room, stim toys, a soft arrival and information on content and sensory stimuli available in advance. If you want to know more about the Relaxed Event, click on Accessibility below.

With Marc Siegel (PJA)
Film: Ariella Aïsha Azoulay, ‘Civil Alliances, Palestine, 47-48’

Soft Arrival:
14.30-15.00 (film at 15:15)
Breaks are scheduled approximately every 45′. Each break lasts 15′.

The Event is part of »Mit Wirkung. Eine Relaxed Veranstaltungsreihe über intensive Themen«.

Mit Media  (مع الميديا)

نكرِّس الفعالية الخامسة ل«مِت ڤيركونغ» إلى دور وسائل الإعلام في/ وممارسات القمع. بدءًا بعرض فيلم، وبصحبة خبراء في السينما والميديا والصحافة، ندعو الحضور إلى التأمل في أثر الميديا على المعارك الاجتماعية الحالية وعامةً. 

بدء الوصول: 14:30-15:00
عرض الفيلم: 15:15
مخطط لاستراحة مدتها 15 دقيقة كل حوالي 45 دقيقة.

هذهالفعاليةجزءمن «مِتڤيركونغ: سلسلةفعالياتريلاكسدحولمواضيعجادة»

التذاكر: الحضور مجاني.

مدة الفعالية: حوالي 4 ساعات

اللغة: اللغات الأساسية ستكون الإنكليزية والألمانية، لكن ستتوفر ترجمة فورية بالعربية أيضًا.

Accessibility Information

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, please contact Agnieszka Habraschka. Agnieszka will be present at the event as the Access Person and will assist you with any questions or requirements related to accessibility.

The event happens on the ground floor and is accessible without stairs.

General Information on Content and Sensory Cues

The Mit Wirkung events address German Racism, with focus on antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism in Germany.
Mit Media focuses on screening films and the use of media. Food will be served during the event, so there will be smells in the space.

Detailed content notes, sensory stimuli and allergen information for the Shams Table are provided below.

Relaxed Event

The event will take place in a relaxed atmosphere.
Various forms of attention are welcome. There will be tables in different heights, different seating options, sensory toys*, drinks, and food (including gluten-free and vegan alternatives). You are free to move around, participate sitting or lying down, and use sensory toys*. You can take breaks independently and come and go as needed.

Seating Options
Chairs, bean bags, cushions, carpets

Quiet Room
There is a quiet room with bean bags, lying options, blankets, and sensory toys*.

*Sensory toys are small, calming objects such as stress balls, putty, or fidget rings that particularly help neurodivergent people regulate their nervous system.

What is a Relaxed Event?
Relaxed events are based on the format of a Relaxed Performance and aim to provide accessibility, particularly for neurodivergent individuals, people with chronic illnesses/pain, and those with invisible disabilities. In these events, accessibility is not an afterthought but an integral part of the event concept. Just like in theater performances, there are often implicit behavioral expectations at events that make it difficult for neurodivergent people or those with chronic illnesses/pain to fully participate. Examples include expectations to sit still, move little, or not take breaks independently. These conventions can hinder participation for many people. The aim of the relaxed event format is to eliminate these rules/expectations.
Additionally, relaxed formats offer a sensitive approach, especially for emotionally charged or trauma-related topics. At the beginning of each event, we will share various body exercises with you, designed to calm the central nervous system, which you can perform individually or as a group.

Additionally, relaxed formats offer a sensitive approach, especially for emotionally charged or trauma-related topics. At the beginning of each event, we will share various body exercises with you, designed to calm the central nervous system, which you can perform individually or as a group.

Content Notes / Sensory Stimuli / Allergens

Civil Alliance, Palestine 47-48 – Ariella Azoulay (2012)

Film in Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles
52,36 minutes

Content Notes:
-The film documents examples of reconciliation, forgiveness, and efforts to establish peace between Jewish and Palestinian people in Palestine.
-It includes mentions and narratives of murder and violence between Jewish and Palestinian communities.
-Mentions and accounts of nationalist and military violence.
-The entire film takes place in a single scene with no scene changes.

Sensory Stimuli:
-Fast subtitle transitions, which may make reading difficult
-At the beginning and end of the film, multiple voices overlap in Hebrew and Arabic
-Several speakers talk simultaneously, especially during live translations
-Continuous static camera work, as the entire film unfolds in a single scene
-At the very end of the film, there is a longer text displayed in white letters on a black background. The letters are relatively small.

Marc Siegel
input

Content Notes:
-No content notes given

What it´s like to live in Germany as a pro-Palestinian – Witness Documentary – Palästina: Verboten in Berlin, ein Dokumentarfilm von Nahed Awwad und Mariam Shahin (2023)
Short Film in German and Arabic – with German subtitles
25,20 minutes

The film follows a Berlin-based lawyer and her colleagues as they fight against the suppression of Palestinian voices in Germany, defending constitutional rights amid increasing restrictions and crackdowns on Palestinian activism.

Content Notes:
-Scenes of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Germany
-Scenes and mentions of police violence against demonstrators
-Mentions of deportations
-Mentions of bureaucratic racism against Palestinians
-Institutionalized racism against Palestinians
-Criminalization and repression of pro-Palestinian voices in Germany
-Mention of racial profiling
-Mentions of the Nakba
-Mentions of the Holocaust
-Mentions of the Intifada

Shams Table

Sensory Stimuli:
-Noise of conversations, many people talking at the same time
-Smell of food

Allergens:

Eggplant Stew (Mnazalet Batinjan):
-Chickpeas
-Onion
-Garlic
-Fresh coriander

Rice:
Fresh Coriander

Pasta Salad with Pesto:
Mozzarella cheese (milk)

Banana Wrap:
-Sesame
-Sulfate
-Walnuts
-Hazelnuts
-Almonds
-Coconut
-Gluten

Spaces and WC

There is continuous, step-free and level access (incl. kerb ramp) from the street to the building and to the hall with a width of at least 150 cm. The floor surface in the courtyard is slightly uneven.
The event takes place in the hall, which is at ground level.
The hall is entered through a 194 cm wide double door. Then there is a second double door, which has an entrance dimension of 180 cm. The third double door, through which the audience enters the hall, is 136 cm wide.
There is no elevator.
Unfortunately, the bar can only be reached via a staircase on the second floor and is therefore not accessible for wheelchair users. There are 17 steps between the first floor and the second floor.
There is space for wheelchairs or walking frames in the event hall/area and there is the option of reserving a particularly suitable seat and/or entering the hall early.

Accessible WC
There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet on the first floor of the building. Access to this toilet is via the corridor and is 198 cm wide. The entrance to the toilet is 79 cm wide.

How to reach us

The nearest stop is U-Bahnhof Eberswalderstr.
The underground station has an elevator. The subway station is located at an intersection with a lot of car and pedestrian traffic.
From there, parts of the path to Ballhaus Ost lead over cobblestones.
The entrance to the theater is through the archway in the courtyard of the building at Pappelallee 15.

Parking
In Pappelallee there are parking spaces in the public area on the roadside. The theater cannot offer its own parking spaces.

LAST PRAYER

Four women wait for the end. This time it comes. For real. They stand in front of a huge wall of fire or wait for the final storm surge. They take the last picture in an unstoppable attempt to freeze the beauty of the moment. They confront the Dada of our time, because the daily image feed caricatures beauty while the planet is sinking. LAST PRAYER is multimedia drama, a homage to life. Feminist, yearningly radical and absurdly abysmal.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

 

Evy Schubert is a director, multimedia artist and author and works at the intersection of theater, film and text. She has realized various productions with the HOLY SHIT team.