Alarm in the Petting Zoo
A visit to the petting zoo. A question of who holds the keys.
“What begins as cute and harmless gradually raises ethical questions about pets, animal experiments, power and freedom without preaching... A clever, live decision-making game.. Questions about choices that deserve reflection—not only from young audiences”
München Abendzeitung
“A production that is moving in more ways than one”
Süddeutsche Zeitung
About the show
Welcome to the petting zoo. The animals are charming, their keeper is friendly, and everything seems to be under control. But slowly we understand it is not a regular zoo, and the animals are in danger. When their human keepers are away, they turn to the audience to help them escape.
As viewers are drawn into the action, each decision raises new questions:
Who can be trusted? Who gets to decide what is best for someone else? And when does looking after another creature become controlling it?
Created with the Schauburg ensemble, Alarm im Streichelzoo turns our affection for animals into a playful, unsettling encounter with freedom, care and responsibility.
Form
Participatory Theatre
Language
German
Duration 45 Minutes
Age Group
9+
Selected Festivals & Venues
Schauburg München · AUGENBLICK MAL!, Berlin (2021, digital adaptation) · Internationales figuren.theater.festival, Erlangen (2021, digital adaptation) · SÜDWIND – Bavarian Theatre Meeting for Young Audiences, Ingolstadt (2022) · Internationales Figurentheaterfestival München (2022)
Credits
Direction Ariel Doron Design Anni-Josephine Enders Dramaturgy Anne Richter Lighting Jochen Massar
Original cast Simone Oswald, Clara Palau y Herrero, Hardy Punzel, Helene Schmitt Theatre education Till Rölle Production Schauburg – Theater für junges Publikum, München Premiere 6 March 2020
Photos @ Fabian Frinzel