Concept & Direction: Gob Squad / Devised by: Johanna Freiburg, Sean Patten, Damian Rebgetz, Tatiana Saphir, Sharon Smith, Berit Stumpf, Sarah Thom, Bastian Trost und Simon Will / Performers June 2022: Johanna Freiburg, Sarah Thom, Sharon Smith, Sean Patten / Sound Design: Jeff McGrory, Torsten Schwarzbach / Video: Miles Chalcraft, Kathrin Krottenthaler / Costumes: Emma Cattell und Kerstin Honeit / Realisation Set Design: Lena Mody / Technical Coordinator & Lighting Design: Chris Umney, Max Wegner / Dramaturgy & Production Management: Christina Runge / Artistic Assistants: Mat Hand, Lena Mody / Interns: Sarah Sarina Rommedahl, Sophie Galibert / Management: Eva Hartmann / Touring Management: Mat Hand / Financial Management: Caroline Gentz / Press and Public Relations: Alexandra Lauck / UK Production: Ayla Suveren
Gob Squad
Western Society
- Theatre
German /
English /
105 min.
“In the beginning, the gods gave us liberty. In the end, we discovered cheating...”
(Sheila Heti)
“Western Society” is a portrait of civilisation in the 21st century, like a frame through which we can peep into the living room of an unknown family, and recognize ourselves. In a far corner of the internet, Gob Squad have found a fairly unspectacular home video, of a family gathering somewhere at the edge of the western world, a waste product of our civilisation. There’s a party going on. A room full of people. Family, friends and strangers are gathered around a karaoke machine, alone together and together alone.
Gob Squad, dressed head to toe in gold, want to bring this little moment of lived reality back to life and they want to get the image just right. As the reconstruction gets underway, they search for answers, ponder the nature of true happiness, show their best sides and spill their stories, projecting themselves into this tiny piece of history.
“Western Society” is inviting and isolating. It’s heaven and hell. For some, the splendid decadenceis a nightmare, for others a place they wished they could be. It’s an endless party and everybody’s there: young, old and everyone in between, and with a bit of luck, you could be there too.
Cast
Dates
Past
#Gob Squad
Credits
Production and Development in collaboration with Center Theatre Group, Micheal Ritchie, Artistic Director (Los Angeles, CA). Co-production: HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Spielart Festival (Munich), brut (Vienna). Gob Squad Arts Collective receives funding under the Conceptual Funding Period 2020-2023 of the State of Berlin, Senate Department for Culture and Europe.
Location
HAU1
Stresemannstr. 29, 10963 BerlinThere are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Access to the Parkett by means of a separate entrance with lift when necessary. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available. Tickets for wheelchair users and accompanying persons can be booked via the ticketing system. If you need any help, please contact our Ticketing & Service team at +49 (0)30 259004-27 or send us an email at
tickets@hebbel-am-ufer.de.HAU2
Hallesches Ufer 34, 10963 BerlinThere are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available. Four relaxed seats are available in the first row of HAU2. Tickets for wheelchair users and accompanying persons can also be booked via the ticketing system. If you need help, please contact our Ticketing & Service team at +49 (0)30 259004-27 or send us an email to
tickets@hebbel-am-ufer.de.Latest information for arrival:
There is currently a construction site on Hallesches Ufer between Wilhelmstraße and Möckernbrücke underground station. There is a divided replacement route for pedestrians (right) and cyclists (left), which are separated by a yellow ground line. The carriageway is narrowed to one lane.
Travelling to HAU2 via U Hallesches Tor:
If you are coming from Hallesches Tor underground station, you will have to use an alternative footpath from Wilhelmstraße / Hallesches Ufer junction, which is separated from the carriageway by a construction fence – the actual footpath is currently closed. Please note: the alternative route is also used by cyclists. Pedestrians should keep to the right. We therefore currently recommend that visually impaired or blind visitors come to the HAU with an accompanying person.
Arrival HAU2 via U Möckernbrücke:
When you leave Möckernbrücke underground station, please stay on the footpath on the canal side until you reach Hallesches Ufer / Großbeerenstraße junction – the opposite side is currently closed due to construction work.
