Duration: 45 min
Information: In French with German translation.
An enormous blue ball in open space. It moves slowly, heavily, yet playfully. Idiosyncratic entities pour out of it, tentatively, eyeing each other curiously, confused, yet elegant in their actions. No one speaks. The ball changes colour. Multi-coloured drifting ensues. Then: negotiations, conflict, laughter. This dynamic gives rise to a series of contradictory situations, including misunderstandings, proximity as well as distance. Step by step, a whimsical community grows out of a kind of situational simultaneity which does not aim for unity, but co-existence. Differences remain visible. Therein lies its poetic power.
Big images and experiential joy are the strengths of this production. Humour and visual clarity create a theatrical experience for children and adults alike. This is a piece that gets by with little words while dealing with a lot: how community forms, how differences remain visible, and how understanding is possible beyond language.
The Compagnie Ivoire Marionnettes from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, works with a monumental puppet, which is at once a character, space, and counterpart. It attracts attention, gathers people around it, creates a temporary focus. With no large set and no technical sophistication, a theatre direct in its effect unfolds: embodied, colourful, inviting.
This is puppet theatre that explains how diversity can be a common denominator in a funny, entertaining way. If the performance goes topsy-turvy, everyone can enjoy the diversity, pause, and relish it. LA BOULE BLEUE succeeds with flying colours in realising a complex topic like diversity while making it accessible to young people in a sensory and playful manner.
From 18 June to 5 July 2026, Chemnitz will be in the international spotlight: Germany's largest international theatre festival "Theatre of the World" is coming to Chemnitz - directly following the Capital of Culture year 2025. For three weeks, Chemnitz will be a meeting place for artists, audiences and theatre enthusiasts from all over the world. A lively celebration of the performing arts will take place on stages, in urban spaces and in unusual locations, overcoming borders and bringing together stories from all parts of the world.
Nine international curators from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, South Africa, Greece, Jordan, India, Senegal and China are responsible for the festival programme. They will meet in Chemnitz in November to select around 40 outstanding productions - works that they have previously viewed in their regions. The result is an inspiring panorama of current theatre forms, languages and perspectives.
