«Nah am Wasser gebaut» is a series of projects for public spaces. In this series, the performance collective Die Soziale Fiktion continues its exploration of the housing crisis through various formats:

In the cities of Bremen, Leipzig and Zurich, the collective is carrying out a number of research-based actions and artistic interventions in newly built urban districts. Together with scenographer Laura Knüsel, the collective developed three objects that appear as prototypes for a public infrastructure of emotions in public squares and along streets.

The objects are accompanied by an Insecurity service, which the artists have established in response to the heavily monitored and technologised architecture of the new urban space and the general uncertainties of late capitalism. Through participatory engagement formats with residents of the new housing estates, they are thus working on the de-privatisation of emotions such as fear, exhaustion, loneliness and insecurity.

To conclude the interdisciplinary project cycle, Die Soziale Fiktion presents «Nah am Wasser gebaut on tour». Combining elements of a promotional event, participatory theatre and documentary, the lecture performance brings the findings from the public space back into the theatre – and invites the audience to engage collectively with the prototypes of the Insecurity.

A co-production by Die Soziale Fiktion and FREISCHWIMMEN, the production platform for performance and theatre, supported by brut Wien, FFT Düsseldorf, Gessnerallee Zurich, HochX Theatre and Live Art Munich, LOFFT Leipzig, Schwankhalle Bremen, SOPHIENSÆLE Berlin and Theater Rampe Stuttgart, under the management of SOPHIENSÆLE GmbH, made possible as part of the ‘Verbindungen fördern’ programme of the Federal Association of Independent Performing Arts, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media.

Supported by the Performing Arts Fund, with funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media as part of the NEUSTART KULTUR initiative, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, and the Lower Saxony Foundation.