The Berlin-based composer and musician Stepha Schweiger
presents »THE WATS«, a new cross-genre work of music theatre.
The piece, an implementation of Katherine Mansfield’s (1888–1923) short story »The Woman at the Store«, will premiere on October 2, 2025, at Ballhaus Ost in Berlin. In THE WATS, three travellers stumble upon a mysterious woman and her child in a remote, apocalyptic desert landscape in New Zealand. What begins as a strenuous
but also humorous journey soon develops into an absurd drama about violence, isolation and emancipation.
Schweiger translates Mansfield’s themes – the role of women, interpersonal relationships and our connection with nature – into a contemporary social context. Applying the musical methods of repetition and subtle, catchy variations, the music theatre addresses highly topical issues such as sexualised violence, climate catastrophe and the quest for self-determination.
