The ghosts of the past are still living within our bodies

Menze invites the audience into an intimate journey through the sensory landscapes of the body, its organs and their ways of communication. In our society, which is driven by performance enhancement and self-optimization, the needs of our bodies often go unnoticed. However,  the human body, especially the organs, do not follow a capitalist logic, but are often affected by it: the internal rhythm of the organs can also be strongly influenced and changed by (chronic) stress, emotional scars and trauma. The artistic-participatory work is aimed at everyone who wants to learn more about the language of the organs and is curious to listen to their own body.

Body sounds such as heartbeat, digestive noises, and breathing are interwoven into a soundscape during the performance, inviting the audience to rediscover the rhythms and sounds of their own bodies. The audience and performer share the stage space, surrounded by soft objects shaped like oversized organs, covered in velvety, soothing surfaces. How can we perceive our organs and their signals ? How can we learn their language and give them space? How can we collectively hold the space when the voices get louder? In an intimate atmosphere and through a multisensory experience, the boundaries between artistic space and personal self-exploration starts to dissolve.

The performance takes place in spoken English.

Performance, 02.03.2025 – 02.03.2025 , @Maschinenhaus Essen
trailer

Concept, performance, stage design

Kati Masami Menze

Dramaturgical support

Rika Sakalak

Support in sound development

MAIKA

Support in technical implementation

Marco Girardin

Light design

Simon Krämer

Creative collaboration

Ayla Bucholz

“The ghosts of the past are still living within our bodies” is funded by the Cultural Office of the City of Essen.

The performance on March 2nd, 2025 takes place as part of somebody@maschinenhaus.

„somebody@maschinenhaus" is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia/ NRW Landesbüro Freie Darstellende Künste as part of the Mittelzentren Tanz und Performance funding program and the Cultural Office of the City of Essen.