Tag Archives: Puppet Theatre

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Levitating Glowing Red Mollusc

Under the railway bridge at the east end of Kaskelstraße, just before the entrance gates to B.L.O. Ateliers, glowing seductively at midnight as I left Berlin is not Bayreuth. Vol. 1: Tannhäuser.

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Berlin is not Bayreuth. Vol. 1: Tannhäuser

Das Helmi on tour, all the way out east to Lichtenberg, in the shallow parabola of northern Rummelsberg right by S-Nöldnerplatz, where the rails form a curved triangle around the old railway workshops backing onto the roundhouse and railway turntable to the east, now typically Berlin ateliers and halfway to forest of the B.L.O. Ateliers.

Festival time. Wagner festival time. Berlin is not Bayreuth. Vol. 1. Six hours of Tannhäuser spread across at least four stages, meandering through the dishevelled brick and concrete buildings and fastigiate black poplars charging thirty metres into the dark, cloudless evening sky. Peter Frost wrecking it singing dodgy Schlagermusik, Cora Frost doing the same as a Pope to ruin The Young Pope. glanz&krawell (I think) working their way through the long shouty bits with proper opera singing. Das Helmi with their always always glorious, monstrous, chaotic stagings, scaring off people who though it was going to be, y’know, opera, culture and shit, instead of what the fuck is happening here, how did I find myself on stage slapping a stranger’s arse with twelve other people doing the same I should’a left when the Pope started kissing people’s feet kinda thing.

Mad thanks to Dasniya Sommer for getting me in, reminding me of a Berlin I utterly love, deeply pagan and animist, rough as guts and no intention of ever changing.

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Hamlet: Das Helmi & Dasniya Sommer in Korea

The Helmis on tour. Two weeks in South Korea running around festivals performing a solo of Hamlet. A solo with two people. And puppets. And bondage.

Das Helmi in South Korea

After 10 Years we are back…

In 2007 Das Helmi toured the show Arsenic and Old Lace in South Korea and also made puppets for another group, it was all strange and beautiful…

..Now its going to happen again!!

5 Years ago Florian bumped into Master Lee in Pappelallee and he invited him to do a Hamlet solo… Five years later the plan is coming into reality, that’s how theatre can work!

So, Florian is going to perform Hamlet, a Ghoststory in South Korea this summer! With one Helmi (Florian) and a ballerina (Dasniya Sommer) playing all the Hamlet characters. The whole story is condensed into 45 Minutes full to the brim with Emotions, Surprises, Attitudes, Plot Twists and Musical Treats…

It’s like a game of chess in a head of a maniac!

It will be performed on ( sometimes 2 shows a day):
31st of July-1st of Aug. Gijang Festival
3rd and the 4th of Aug. Miryang Festival
6th and the 7th of Aug. Geochang Festival
And from the 8th to the 13th of August there is a Puppet Workshop in Gijang. The workshop will be used to make puppets for a production of Animal Farm from Master Lee.

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Dasniya Sommer — “Bondage Duell” At Sophiensæle + May Performances & Workshops

Everything Dasniya Sommer in May, in Berlin, Lyon, Bremen, performances, and workshops, and the première of her new performance, next Friday May 18th at Sophiensæale.

Dear Friends, Bondagisti, Theateristi and Dancers,

a bunch of performances in Berlin, Bremen, and Lyon this month, plus Tuesday mornings Shibari Technique in Haus Sommer.

As always, you can read all about this on my blog. In the meantime:

  1. Bondage Duell, with Silke Schönfleisch at Sophiensæle, May 18, 19, 21
  2. Nun on the Moon, at European Lab, Lyon, May 25
  3. Der besuch der verknallten Dame, with Das Helmi, at Theater Bremen, May 28
  4. Tuesday mornings Shibari Technique, in Uferhallen, Berlin-Wedding May 9, 23, 30
  5. Private & Group Lessons
  6. Blog!

Enjoy the arrival of spring’s sun!

Dasniya

1. Bondage Duell, with Silke Schönfleisch, at Sophiensæle

As part of the Every Body Festival in Berlin’s Sophiensæle, I am happy to première in Berlin Bondage Duellwith Silke Schönfleisch.

A 178cm tall ballerina and a 114cm small female government official on a tricycle appear on the scene. An uneven fight. The weapons: rope, muscular bodies and a thirst for adrenaline. Using classical dance means and Japanese bondage techniques, Bondage Duell examines physical and social patterns of bonding, empowerment and constraint. A place where cruelty and freedom, fun and curiosity lie closely together.

Dance: Silke Schönfleisch
Choreography & Dance: Dasniya Sommer,

Dates: Thursday 18th, Friday 19th May at 21:00; Sunday 21st May at 19:00
Location: Sophiensæale Kantine
Tickets: 13€ / 8€ (Online tickets)
Kombi-tickets: 18€ / 12€
More info: Sophiensæle

A production by haus sommer in coproduction with Grenzenlos Kultur Theaterfestival and SOPHIENSÆLE. Photo © Holger Rudolph

2. Nun on the Moon, at European Lab, Lyon

I will be speaker/performer at European Lab 2017 in Lyon in the Nuit Immersive, by Tracks and organised by Adami and European Lab.

Featuring the interactive contributions of a selection of unique and pioneering artists, the Nuit Immersive will be a night like no other. No seats or popcorn-holders, no stages or “fourth walls”, the Nuit Immersive will instead plunge you the public into the heart of the creative process and invite you to move around and explore this interactive performance as best you see fit. Advanced warning: here, the sign clearly states “PLEASE DO TOUCH”!

Date: Thursday, 25th May, starts at 21:30
Location: Les Subsistances • Le Hangar
Tickets: 8€ (Online tickets)
More info: European Lab

3. Der besuch der verknallten Dame, Das Helmi & Theater HORA at Theater Bremen

Once more with Das Helmi and Zürich’s Theater HORA, in Theater Bremen’s Festival Mittenmang.

Date: Sunday, May 28th, at 18:30
Location: Kleinen Haus, Theater Bremen
Tickets: 9€ – 20€ (Online tickets)
More info: Theater Bremen, Das Helmi, Theater HORA

4. Tuesday Mornings Shibari Technique in May

The workshop focusses on traditional Shibari technique, basic and intermediate level. Inspired by my teachers Osada Steve, Kamijoo Saki, Arisue Go, Tamandua Ropë. We start with the basics and security principles. Learning initial knots and floor work patterns with a partner. When these principles are set, we approach complex figures and suspension technique step by step.

Dates: Tuesdays, May 9th, 23rd, 30th, 2017 (No class on the 16th!)
Time: 10am-12pm
Level: Intermediate
Costs: 20 Euro per person
10 class card 160 €
@ Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt – Wedding. Uferstrasse 8, 13357 Berlin. Entrance B
More info: Shibari Technique Morning Classes

Please call when you are in the court yard, in case you don’t find it, or the door is locked: + 49 174 393 70 49.

5. Private & Group Lessons

Of course it’s always possible to arrange another time for private and group workshops, sessions, choreographing ropes for performances, and other long-planned or spontaneous ideas. Drop me a line!

6. Blog!

Recent adventures make their way to my blog, perfect for a spring weekend afternoon of reading and pictures.

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BANDEN! Festival Bike Caravan

In Oldenburg for the première of Das Helmi’s collaboration with Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, the “progessive feminist science-fiction soft-porno project” Gullivera’s Reise (and repeatedly realising I should have gone: London, train to Brussels, night in Brussels, train to Oldenburg, and not London, fly to Berlin, arrive at midnight, get a morning lift to Bremen, train to Oldenburg, arrive half an hour before the show). It was most excellent seeing the Helmi mob (including Dasniya Sommer and Solene Garnier) once again — the company I’ve seen more than any other.

Friday night was the second and last of this season, in the BANDEN! Festival, and after we joined the throng in the parking lot of Exerzierhalle for food and beer. And there was this bicycle caravan thing, delivering people from one party to the next. This thing was riding around Oldenburg at night like a deranged dragon pirate ship. I saw some mad good bikes in Oldenburg.

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All things Dasniya & Helmi & Shibari in March and April

Everything from Dasniya Sommer in one hit, cos there’s so much:

  1. Tuesday Morning Shibari Technique Classes in Berlin, April 3, 10, 17, 24
  2. Das Helmi: Gulliveras Reise, Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, première March 30th
  3. Das Helmi: Große Vögel, Kleine Vögel, Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, April 1st
  4. Tamandua Ropë Kinbaku Workshop: Adding Gravity, Berlin, March 19th

Dasniya’s in Oldenburg with Das Helmi working on a new performance with the Staatstheater ensemble, a “progressive feminist science-fiction soft-porno project with puppets and people”. Yes, I am going, I mean come on, sci-fi feminist porno puppets? I’ve seen the Helmis more than any other theatre or dance company and they’re banging. Plus they’re re-staging Große Vögel, Kleine Vögel there, though I’ve seen that three or four times already. I reckon it’s their best work.

While Dasniya’s away the brilliant and quite sadistic Tamandua is teaching a Kinbaku workshop in Uferhallen. If you can pony up for it, his tying is worth it. And then it’s April, so more of Dasniya’s Tuesday morning classes.

All of that and more on Dasniya’s blog. Get to it!

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Dasniya Sommer’s Bondage and Dancey Stuff in February

And here’s my regular re-posting of Dasniya Sommer’s most excellent bondage and shibari workshops in Berlin, this time with performances. As usual, more more more on Dasniya’s blog and website.

Also! Remounts of two Das Helmi shows at Ballhaus Ost: Fatrasien on 3rd-5th February; and Große Vögel Kleine Vögel on 17th-19th February.

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Dasniya Sommer’s April Shibari Workshops, Classes, & Performances

When it comes to blogging, Dasniya‘s putting me to shame. Shame! And performing! Last night I saw her in Das Helmi’s Sündenstadt (for the 4th time, I think. Almost a different work from the first); tonight she performs with 4RUDE‘s Crime and Punishment I at Tatwerk, and next week, her new morning shibari technique class, and Yoga & Shibari. Brilliant!

And because I can copy-paste, here’s her monthly newsletter. You want to sign up for it, I swear.

Dear Friends, Bondagisti, Theateristi and Dancers,

Spring is awakening! This month, with three workshops for pure technicians, yogis and the creative spirits.
Performancewise I break new soil with Butoh, and guest perform with Das Helmi.

As always, you can read all about this on my blog. In the meantime:

  1. Shibari Technique Workshop Tuesday, April 12th
  2. Yoga & Shibari Workshop. Wednesday, April 20th (new time!)
  3. Staging Shibari/Bondage Workshop. Friday, April 29th
  4. Private & Group Lessons
  5. Sündenstadt — Das Helmi
  6. Crime and Punishment — 4Rude
  7. Blog!
  8. Workshop & Class info

Have a good week & enjoy the sun!

Dasniya

1. Shibari Technique. Tuesday, April 12th

Tuesday 19 & 26 April; 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 May; 7 & 14 June
Costs: 20 Euro per person, 10 class card 160 €

The workshop focusses on traditional Shibari technique. Inspired by my teachers Osada Steve, Kamijoo Saki, Arisue Go, Hourai Kasumi or Lun Ario. We start with the basics and security principles. Learning initial knots and floor work patterns with a partner. When these principles are set, we approach complex figures and suspension technique step by step. More info.

2. Yoga & Shibari Workshop. Wednesday, April 20th

Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 at 6pm – 10pm
Costs: 40 Euro per person (social price 30 Euro)
General Description: in English and German.
Information and additional news on my blog: Zur Zeit.

3. Workshop: Staging Shibari/Bondage. Friday, April 29th

Friday, April 29th, 2016, 7pm-11pm
Costs: 40 Euro per person (social price 30 Euro)

Following on from the ever-popular Yoga+Shibari workshops, we’ll be seeing where rope, shibari, bondage can go, how it can become performance, whether just for each other, on the stage, or anywhere in-between.

Read about our first Staging Shibari/Bondage workshop from January. Information and additional news on my blog: Zur Zeit.

4. Private & Group Lessons

Of course it’s always possible to arrange another time for private and group workshops, sessions, choreographing ropes for performances, and other long-planned or spontaneous ideas. Drop me a line!

5. Sündenstadt — Das Helmi

Das Helmi’s puppet theatre mayhem of Frank Miller’s Sin City returns to Berlin this month. Join me at Ballhaus Ost!
Sündenstadt 1
19h, Fri 15th & Sat 16th, April
Ballhaus Ost
Pappelallee 15,
Prenzlauer Berg

6. Performance: Crime and Punishment

A Butoh performance by 4RUDE and workshop participants
(including me :)
On April 17th, at 8pm
Tatwerk Berlin
Hasenheide 9
Gewerbehof – 2. Hinterhof, Aufgang 1, 3. OG
U7 & U8 Hermannplatz

7. Blog!

Some recent adventures:
Photos and the the story behind the second Staging Shibari.
Working with Rita Stelling and Veit Sprenger in Enter the Hydra

8. Where am I Going?

All workshops and classes are at Teatris/Alte Kantine or in our ‘Mini- Dojo’ in:
Staircase b/c, Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt
Uferstraße 8-11, 13357 Berlin-Wedding
U8 Pankstr/U9 Osloerstr

Please register beforehand, then we’ll send you the details.
Please call when you are in the court yard (by the bus café), in case you don’t find it, or the door is locked: + 49 174 393 70 49.

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Dasniya Sommer’s March Workshops: Yoga & Shibari, & “Staging Shibari/Bondage”

More from Dasniya—much more: March workshops in Berlin-Wedding, teaching ballet in Prenzlauer Berg (yes, dragged self’s sorry arse to both), choreographing a piece by director Veit Sprenger in HAU 1, again with Das Helmi, oh! and putting me to shame on the blog front. Most excellent!

Dear Friends, Bondagisti, Theateristi and Dancers,

a month of teaching and performing this March in Berlin! January’s return to Yoga & Shibari saw many old and new faces, and my new workshop Staging Shibari took ropes and bondage somewhere else again.

As always, you can read all about this on my blog. In the meantime:

  1. Yoga & Shibari Workshop. Wednesday, March 23rd
  2. New! Staging Shibari/Bondage Workshop. Thursday, March 31st
  3. Private & Group Lessons
  4. Teaching Professional Ballet, March 14th & 21st
  5. Sündenstadt — Das Helmi
  6. Heiner Müller Festival: Enter the Hydra — Veit Sprenger
  7. Blog!

Have a nice end of Winter!

Dasniya

1. Yoga & Shibari Workshop. Wednesday, March 23rd

The ever-popular Yoga+Shibari workshop!

Costs: 40 Euro per person (social price 30 Euro)
Please register beforehand, then we’ll send you the details.
General Description: in English and German.

Information and additional news on my blog: Zur Zeit.

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016 at 7pm.
At Teatris/Alte Kantine or in our ‘Mini- Dojo’. Both locations are at:
Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt in Wedding. Staircase b/c, Uferstraße 8-11, 13357 Berlin
U8 Pankstr/U9 Osloerstr

Please call when you are in the court yard, in case you don’t find it, or the door is locked: + 49 174 393 70 49.

2. Workshop: Staging Shibari/Bondage. Thursday, March 31st

Following on from the ever-popular Yoga+Shibari workshops, we’ll be seeing where rope, shibari, bondage can go, how it can become performance, whether just for each other, on the stage, or anywhere in-between.

Read about our first Staging Shibari/Bondage workshop from January.

Costs: 40 Euro per person (social price 30 Euro)

Information and additional news on my blog: Zur Zeit.

Thursday, March 31, 2016, at 7pm.
At Teatris/Alte Kantine or in our ‘Mini- Dojo’. Both locations are at:
Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt in Wedding. Staircase b/c, Uferstraße 8-11, 13357 Berlin
U8 Pankstr/U9 Osloerstr

Please call when you are in the court yard, in case you don’t find it, or the door is locked: + 49 174 393 70 49.

3. Private & Group Lessons

Of course it’s always possible to arrange another time for private and group workshops, sessions, choreographing ropes for performances, and other long-planned or spontaneous ideas. Drop me a line!

4. Teaching Professional Ballet in March

The next two upcoming Mondays I will substitute for Yuko Sato’s Profi–Ballet training at Center of Dance /Kulturbrauerei.

More information about my ballet training and class.

Dates: March 14 & 21, 2016
Time: 12 h – 14.30 h
Costs: 7 €
Where: Schönhauser Allee 36,
Entrance: Knaackstrasse 97/ Sredzkistrasse 1, court yard of Kulturbrauerei
U-Bahn: U2 Eberswalderstraße

5. Sündenstadt — Das Helmi

Das Helmi’s puppet theatre mayhem of Frank Miller’s Sin City returns to Berlin this month. Join me at Ballhaus Ost!

Sündenstadt
19 h, Fr 15 & Sa 16, April
Ballhaus Ost
Pappelallee 15,
Prenzlauer Berg

6. Heiner Müller Festival: Enter The Hydra — Veit Sprenger

As part of the Heiner Müller Festival, Veit Sprenger stages Enter the Hydra.

19 h, Friday 11th & Saturday 12th, March
HAU1
Stresemannstr. 29
10963 Berlin

Artistic Coordination: Veit Sprenger
Herakles 2: Rita Stelling
Video: Alexej Tchernij
Trombone: Mareike Huber
Choreography: Dasniya Sommer

7. Blog!

Some recent adventures:

Photos and the the story behind the first Staging Shibari.
The the Staatsballett Berlin—twice! To see Polina Semionowa dance.
A Shibari Exchange with Lun Ario, Schucki Rennpferd & Kate.

Plenty more too, for a winter’s afternoon of reading and pictures.