Red Zone in the M*Halle: A sweaty power struggle on stage
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Red Zone: Ancient power struggles meet a sweaty present
In the M*Halle Schwerin, Aristophanes’ comedy The Assemblywomen transforms into a pulsating contemporary scenario. Helene Hegemann and River Roux relocate the ancient conflict over power, gender roles, and social reorganization to a gym, where self-optimization becomes a political choreography.
A gym as a political arena
On spinning bikes, gym mats, and under harsh stage lights, six performers enter a physical state of exception. Drills, exhaustion, and the pursuit of maximum performance define the theater atmosphere. Seconds-timed beats by DJ Gadutra remind one of war drums and drive the ensemble into a Red Zone, where the pulse rises and the individual body becomes a stage for societal expectations.
Dramaturgy between Aristophanes and self-optimization
Aristophanes’ ancient source tells of women who take power in the face of war, corruption, and political failure. The new production brings this idea into a present shaped by the ideals of capital, success, and permanent improvement. The dramaturgy questions whether a change in gender at the top truly creates fairer conditions or merely changes the surface of a deeper power problem.
Set design, costumes, and live sound
Nicole Marianna Wytyczak's set design and video make physical exertion visible. Heartbeats and strain become the visual material, while colorful fitness costumes by Olja Grubić both showcase and uniform the body. The live music generates an intense acoustics between club, training hall, and political assembly. Director Bibiana Mendes brings these elements together into a body-focused stage art that draws the audience directly into the rhythm of the events.
A world premiere with a clear contemporary diagnosis
The production combines acting, performance, and music theater into an unusual stage experience. Helene Hegemann, known for her novel Axolotl Roadkill and her work in film, opera, and theater, meets the performer and author River Roux. Roux has worked among others with the Berlin Strippers Collective as well as at the Berliner Volksbühne and Theater Bremen.
Also part of the artistic management are dramaturg Urška Brodar, costume designer Olja Grubić, and DJ Gadutra. The cast includes Agnes Hestholm, Joana Damberg, Caleb Felder, Margherita Campostrini, Luca Kronast-Reichert, and Julia Krukow.
Conclusion: Theater as a physical boundary crossing
Red Zone promises an intense evening between ancient comedy, contemporary performance, and political reflection. The audience experiences a production about power, body, exhaustion, and the desire for a better future. Those who want to experience theater as immediate, demanding, and sensually charged stage art will find an evening with a high pulse and open outcome in the M*Halle.
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