"The group moves forward in anticipation"
In the heart of Munich, a unique theater stands out – Theater Grenzenlos. Founded in 2015 by Viktor Schenkel, this theater has made a significant impact in the city's cultural landscape by focusing on artistically challenging projects with young refugees.
Theater Grenzenlos' performances are wordless, using poetic images that invite audience interpretation. The stories are told through body language, mimicry, dance, and rhythm, creating an authentic and immersive experience. The themes that the theater deals with are diverse and thought-provoking, encompassing reconciliation in the family, bridges between value systems, overcoming loneliness and trauma, social balance, love, and finding a home in foreign lands.
Viktor Schenkel, who transitioned from acting to directing and staging ideas, came up with the idea of founding the theater after working with troubled youth in 2016 and seeing unaccompanied refugees in an arrival house in Munich-Freimann. His vision was to grow a meeting space open to people from all over the world seeking theater and cultural exchange in Munich.
The ensemble of Theater Grenzenlos consists of young, unaccompanied refugees, hailing from Uganda, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The first contacts with these young refugees were made by knocking on doors at arrival houses, carriers, and counseling centers. The beginning of the project saw get-to-know evenings, trust games, and a welcoming atmosphere to build a sense of community and value among the participants.
The theater's work is nonverbal, allowing the refugees on stage to share and express their stories and views directly. This approach fosters empathy and cultural understanding, making Theater Grenzenlos distinct by combining artistic expression with social integration and storytelling from the perspective of young people who have faced displacement.
As Theater Grenzenlos celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, it plans to further develop its style of genuine, speechless theater with new projects, new heads, and new collaborations. The theater is supported by the Mohr Villa, the Munich Cultural Referate, and the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, contributing to its external image and perception in society.
Looking ahead, Theater Grenzenlos plans to tour beyond Munich, sharing its unique blend of art, storytelling, and cultural exchange with a wider audience. The ensemble continues to focus on opportunities, hopes, and responsibilities in their current lives, embodying the spirit of love, understanding, and integration that lies at the heart of Theater Grenzenlos.
The unique fusion of art, storytelling, and cultural exchange exhibited by Theater Grenzenlos extends beyond their home-and-garden performance space in Munich, as they aim to tour and share this approach with a broader audience in the future. As a sustained participant in the education-and-self-development of its ensemble members, the theater champions sustainable-living through the empowerment of young, unaccompanied refugees.
