Sometimes, all you need are a few small things to tell a big story - a table, a lamp, a bag of candies, a pill, and a glass of water.
Without words, using onomatopoeic vocal expressions, the theater creator Peer Damminger brings a pile of colorful toffees to life. Unfolding is a dramatic narrative about openness, acceptance, and love - with an originally tragic ending - or in the bittersweet variation with a glimmer of hope.
In any case, the performance sparks a conversation about the viewers' own experiences, prompting contemplation on the how and why of dealing with the familiar and the unfamiliar.
"Piccolo Suicidio" is a classroom play for ALL age groups about exclusion and racism.
for all ages
Duration: 45 minutes, including post-performance discussion
Multiple performances at the same day are possible
Production 1986
With: Peer Damminger
Peer Damminger from KiTZ Theaterkumpanei has proven that a play on a table works (...) The piece revolves around social exclusion. The children not only had fun; they also made sense of it for themselves.
The Rheinpfalz
Sometimes, it only takes a few small things to tell a story of great significance.
Mannheimer Morgen
I am still very impressed and delighted about our courtyard theater on Monday. We have seen many great plays from you, but this piece surpasses everything we have seen so far. This small table play scores with:
* Structure: Watching, speaking, watching, speaking
* Theme: it directly concerns the children, their lives, their experiences, they establish connections
* Weight/Lightness: serious, but amusing to watch, constructive and hopeful in the end and through the conversations
* Complexity: The discussions following our groups varied greatly, depending on what the children brought up: language, origin, appearance of any kind, clothing — anything can lead to exclusion from a group. Due to its complexity, you can gladly watch it twice or more with a class. You discover new things!
* Language: there are many, many native languages at our school. All children had the same conditions because the play is spoken in Grammelo. Even though you don't understand a word, you understand everything! It was an exciting conversation starter for my class!
Conclusion: This play contributes to integration and peaceful coexistence. It strengthens empathy and can also be explored or reenacted in art class, leading to further anchoring and deepening of the insights gained while watching the play.
The 'bittersweet ending' could become 'required reading' for third graders who spend another year together at the same school and can refer back to the images and insights when problems arise in the playground situation.
Feedback from Wittelsbachschule Elementary School
