Productions

  • © Nemo Witte

  • © Nemo Witte

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Marlene Helling

45 minutes
Theater hall

The video performance portrays three mining areas used for tourism: the Hambach open-cast mine, the Dead Sea, and the Lusatian lignite mining area. Through travelogues and a repertoire of movements inspired by them, Marlene Helling recounts her encounters with these places. It becomes clear how nature is commodified both as a raw material and in the form of tourism. A 3-channel panoramic projection, which brings post-industrial landscapes in the Anthropocene to life, highlights parallels between the mining areas and how we view nature and make it our own. The vast landscape images engage in dialogue with a body that attempts to encounter the ground with immediate mindfulness.

In her dance and video performances, Marlene Helling addresses social, ecological, and feminist issues as well as site-specific circumstances. Her work is based on research conducted with her artistic team—visual artist Marei Dierßen, video artist Simon Vorgrimmler, and sound artist Juli Grönefeld.

Artistic direction and performance Marlene Helling Stage and artistic collaboration Marei Dierßen Mapping, video support and artistic collaboration Simon Vorgrimmler Sound and artistic collaboration Juli Grönefeld Light and sound Desirée García López Creative Producing Laura Zielinski

A production by Marlene Helling in cooperation with Ballhaus Ost. Funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, NRW Landesbüro Freie Darstellende Künste, City of Bochum, AStA of the Ruhr University Bochum, Society of Friends of the Ruhr University, the Master’s program in Scenic Research at the Institute for Theater Studies at the Ruhr University, and with the kind support of the residency program of HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts, Dresden.
The guest performance is supported by the NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK Guest Performance Funding Theater, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, as well as the ministries of culture and arts of the federal states.

Dates

  • Feb 28, 2026
  • Mar 01, 2026
Language Info

In German spoken language
With english surtitles

Access / Content Note

Accessible for wheelchair users
Various seating options