Studio Urbanistan

The 90s in Hellerau. After decades of military use under two dictatorships, the once shining Festspielhaus stands in the neighbourhood in a state of disrepair. Behind the long-shuttered walls, in the stench of old diesel, in dilapidated rooms and under a broken roof, however, a free space for artistic experimentation was created.

And today? What do the 90s tell us about social change and empowerment? About spaces of possibility in art? What do people remember, what narratives are on tape and what is utopia?

With Walkman and headphones, the audience embarks on an hour-long audio walk through the grounds of the Festspielhaus - to architectural layers, personal experiences and secret traces in cracks in the wall. Original sounds are combined with documentary material and acoustic visions to create a mixtape about today and tomorrow. Where does the cassette hiss? Where does the tape leak? What do we overdub and re-record? Until the cassette clicks.

The playback devices can be borrowed from the visitor centre during opening hours.