In Esther , the new production for young audiences, Reut Shemesh and five professionel performers of different ages focus on the self-discovery process and identity development of young people. What do the clothes of young people and children say? How aware are they of an overarching ideology and beliefs in their presentation? The piece explores the nuanced relationship between uniforms, symbols, behaviours and rituals as well as social class.
In doing so, it shows how young people deal with the delicate balance between conformity and individuality. During the research phase, Reut Shemesh involved the project's target group and worked with them in Dresden, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne and Potsdam. This introductory format is intended to sensitise the senses and the mind to the subject matter of the following performance.
Through movement and improvisation, the warm-up invites you to discover uniformity, collectivity and your own individuality. The theme of Esther revolves around youth and uniforms.
For me, it's also about uniforms in society and how young people can be instrumentalised with uniforms. The uniforms usually come from adults and I'm interested in how the view of children and young people changes with the uniforms. I was a gymnast myself as a girl. Today I think we wore very tight clothes. There are a lot of questions that need to be asked!
I want to work with "re-enactment" - in other words, re-enacting and recreating existing photos of young people in different uniforms. Some of the photos were taken by myself, others are from an open call that we shared in Potsdam, Hamburg, Dresden and Munich, sometimes with old uniforms that are no longer in use, like the Pioneer uniform.
