Slovakia – What’s the Story, Mum? (Work in Progress)

My Mum was born into ‘one of those countries’ that do not exist anymore.
The land still exists, the language exists, the people still exist-but also not.

She was born into a place she needed to leave.
Leaving means loosing-leaving means change-means making a decision.
Leaving behind makes space for sth new, I am part of that sth new.

She never talks about that time she left -the time before-
When I ask she does not know what to answer.
Like she and her mother, the two of us live in different countries.
The other day I received a package with a photo book,
With pictures of her from the old times.
On of the pictures she is sitting on a butterfly chair, holding a book in her hands.
On the back of this photo she has written with her distinct handwriting:
Diese Stuhl hab ich gekauft von mein erstes Gehalt
Ich würde mich freuen wenn du ihn brauchen Kannst.

K: This chair, the chair from the photo is now standing in a living room in Brussels.
P: Her chair, orange, modern, looks like a butterfly, it was designed in Buenos Aires.
It’s standing by the window, surrounded by plants. It’s actually not very comfortable to sit on…..

1968: Soviet troops invade Czechoslovakia. A period of hope and socialism comes to an abrupt end, also known as the Prague Spring. A young woman rises from her chair and decides to leave her country. Others decide to stay. Slovakia – What’s the Story, Mum” is about a daughter who tries to understand her mother’s story. It’s about freedom, courage and resilience, about care and chaos, and it’s about today.

Duration: ca. 1 h 20 min
Language: German, English, Slovakian
Please note: The premiere of “Slovakia, what’s the story, Mum?” will take place on 26.02.25 at the kaaitheater in Brussels. The performance in HELLERAU is a work in progress and offers the opportunity to gain an insight into the research material in advance and to enter into conversation about it.