Duration: 55 min
Information: Without a spoken word
It is winter 2005, in the Chilean Andes. A military exercise is undertak en – the men are unprepared and unequipped. As they march along the Antuco Volcano, 44 young recruits and one sergeant perish of cold and exhaustion. What remains is emptiness, anger, and incomprehension, felt throughout the country. The group Silencio Blanco from Santiago de Chile have chosen to stage this deeply affecting tragedy in particu lar. The focus is not on the harrowing manoeuvre itself, but on the aftermath: the waiting, the leaving behind, the day-to-day reality for the families. As is fitting to the situation, the artists have created a puppet theatre play without a single word of dialogue. Through powerful scenic imagery, they address the militarisation of youth and the link between their livelihoods and the army as an institution.
From June 18 to July 5, 2026, Chemnitz will be in the international spotlight: Germany’s largest international theater festival, “Theater der Welt,” is coming to Chemnitz—immediately following the city’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2025. For three weeks, Chemnitz will become a gathering place for artists, audiences, and theater enthusiasts from all over the world. On stages, in public spaces, and at extraordinary venues, a vibrant celebration of the performing arts will unfold, transcending borders and bringing together stories from all corners of the globe.
Nine international curators from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, South Africa, Greece, Jordan, India, Senegal, and China will shape the festival program. In November, they will meet in Chemnitz to select around 40 outstanding productions—works they have previously scouted in their regions. The result will be an inspiring panorama of contemporary theater forms, languages, and perspectives.
