Genghis Khan

Three performers with Down’s syndrome take to the stage as traditional inhabitants of Mongolia. Dressed in thick fur coats, they parade across the stage and treat the public to ‘authentic Mongolian’ behaviour. The setting is reminiscent of the ‘human zoos’ popular in Europe at the time Dr Langdon-Down was making his discoveries. While lighting and sound effects colour the inherently neutral action, the performance plays with our judgements and prejudices concerning ‘the other’. A set-up as effective as it is simple, stirring up the discussion of both colonialism and racism as handicaps. In this way, Genghis Khan creates space for shock and empathy, fear and fascination, projection and reflection.

• Monster Truck
• Performers ― Sabrina Braemer, Jonny Chambilla, Manuel Gerst, Sahar Rahimi, Oliver Rincke, Mark Schroppel, Ina Vera
• Dramaturg ― Marcel Bugiel
• Music ― Mark Schroppel
• Artistic consultant ― Matthias Meppelink, Alisa Hecke
• Co-production ― Ehrliche Arbeit Collaboration ― Theater Thikwa Co-production ― FFT (Dusseldorf), Pumpenhaus (Munster), Ringlokschuppen (Mulheim) & Sophiensaele (Berlin)
• Partners ― Municipality of Berlin, Kunststiftung NRW, Kultursekretariat NRW, Rudolf Augstein Stichting, LAG Soziokultur NRW & Fonds Darstellende Kunste e. V.
• Premiere ― 22 September 2012