«Mutterzungen»
Rebekka Bangerter

in collaboration with Asa Hendry, Solange P. Molu, Felicia Touvenot

What is lost when a language disappears? An intimate, poetic encounter between three speakers of endangered languages in the dark.

  • Thu 11/06 20:00 – 21:30

    Premiere followed by a snack and drink reception

    Halle

  • Sat 13/06 20:00 – 21:30

    Halle

    Followed by a talk with the artists

  • Mon 15/06 20:00 – 21:30

    Halle

  • Tue 16/06 20:00 – 21:30

    Halle

Sorbian woman putting on traditional costume. Copyright: Felicia Touvenot

What makes language alive—and where does understanding begin? 

A linguist who speaks Bamum-Shüpamom, an author who speaks Romansh, and a language activist who speaks Sorbian come together in a space filled with cushions, voices and memories. Fluidly switching between different languages, translations, and the untranslatable, they reflect together on loss and legacy, on language as a form of resistance and a space of possibility. 

The audience lies in the middle of this conversation, similar to a sleepover, where language appears not as a pure means of communication, but as sound, relationship, and lived practice. Mindful listening beyond linguistic understanding becomes a shared experience.

A theater evening that emerges in the spaces between translations. In various spoken languages. Without surtitles.

After-talk

On Saturday, June 13, there will be an after-talk with the artists following the show. There will be a 15-minute intermission. The conversation will be moderated and translated into English by Noa Winter (Dramaturgy,Gessnerallee). We invite the audience to participate in various
languages. Languages understood in the space are Bamum-Shüpamom, German, English, French, Romansh, Swiss German, Sorbian, and Spanish.

Disappearance of languages

Around 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide. Of these, only about 65 are considered secure – and almost half of the languages spoken today are at risk of disappearing within the next few generations. This is a loss of unprecedented proportions: never before in human history has linguistic diversity declined so rapidly. But what is lost when a language disappears? Not only words, but knowledge, memories, worldviews, relationships, and ways of describing and understanding the world. 

An insight into the topic: https://www.endangeredlanguages.com/

Information on accessibility and language 

  • Stepless access

  • Age: Recommended from 12+ years

  • Sprache: Multilingual performance in various spoken languages – Bamum-Shüpamom, Romansh, Sorbian, English, German, Swiss German and French. Not everything is translated. Listening beyond linguistic understanding is part of the experience.

  • Audio Description: A touch tour with Julia Skof takes place before each performance at 7.40pm. Meeting point: Access Infopoint in Stall6.

  • Touch Tour: A touch tour with Lenthe Basant takes place before each performance at 7.40 pm. Meeting point: Access Infopoint Point in Stall6.

  • Pick-up service: People who would like to be picked up from Zurich main station to attend the event can contact us at barrierefreiheit@gessnerallee.ch up to two hours before the show begins

  • Admission and Audience: There is a seating and lounging area which is audience space and stage at once. Beanbags and chairs can be reserved to accommodate accessibility requirements. The beanbags have a warm fabric cover and cannot be propped up against a wall or other support. During admission, the audience is invited to leave their shoes and belongings at a clothing rack. Socks and torches will be provided. Audience members can use the torch to signal when they wish to leave the room.

  • Content Notes: colonialism, colonial extraction, suppression of peoples and languages, Sorbian history during World War 2, National Socialism, the expulsion of peoples, mention of neo-Nazi violence and the desecration of graves.

  • Light: A large part of the performance takes place in the dark. It gradually gets lighter as the performance progresses. The performers use torches, which may be dazzling at times.

  • Sound: The performance has many very quiet moments. For most of the time, only the performers’ conversations can be heard. In one scene, pre-recorded interviews are played. Various sounds are used, such as bird and cicada calls, as well as synthesised sounds (high-pitched and deep, swirling tones).

  • Other sensory stimuli: At the end, the gate to the street is opened. This can create an observational situation with passers-by.

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