Anne Sophie Kapsner is the german participating artist in the Future Laboratory, a performing arts network connecting artists and audiences to find the European narratives of tomorrow. A network of 12 European partners is launching this pilot project of research residencies on the topic of social integration throughout Europe. 15 emerging artists are selected to conduct research in three residencies in three different cities.
Anne’s first residence took place in March 2023 at Nowy Teatr in Warsaw, Poland. The second place for their research is Madrid, Spain, in November 2023. The last residence will be in Piatra Neamț, Romania.
Anne’s research topic circles around queer bodies in oppressive systems. They are interested in identity politics, the realities queer people live in and how the politics affect them. Who is visible and represented in the cityscape? What and where are safe spaces? What part can theatre play in this regarding opening up spaces and stages? Whose story is told on stage? Anne is searching for personal stories about visible and invisible scars, the feeling of loneliness but also the beauty that lies in pain.
During the residences, each institution will offer the artists the opportunity to access local resources – organisations, foundations, artists, members of local communities, etc. who will allow them to study socio-political realities present in each partner theatre and the city where it is based. The aim of the residences is to formulate ideas for projects based on the most vital, pressing issues involving social integration, as well as new and nonexistent narratives which, according to artists, should be presented on theatrical stages of the future.
The partners are:
- Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
- Conde Duque Centro de Cultura Contemporanea, Madrid (Spain)
- Cyclorama (France)
- Queens Theatre Hornchurch (United Kingdom)
- Théâtre de Liège (Belgium)
- Staatstheater Mainz (Germany)
- Nowy Teatr, Warsaw (Poland)
- Teatrul Tineretului, Piatra Neamt (Romania)
- Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa (Italy)
- Teatro Municipal do Porto (Portugal)
- Comédie de Reims (France)
- Théâtre National de Strasbourg (France)
