Trotz

EMOTIONAL WORLDS / RIOTING / SHOW

TROTZ (engl. DEFIANCE). It’s a feeling. It’s a reaction. To the state of the world. The state of Germany, Thuringia, and Jena. An election last autumn, an election approaching, and in between: the teenpark—a space where young people meet professionals from Theaterhaus Jena to read, discuss, rehearse, and finally: perform.

"TROTZ" is the conclusion of a trilogy (»WEIGERT EUCH: WEIGERT EUCH ALLE. Ein Abend für Empathie und Resonanz«, March 2023 und »UNDER PRESSURE«, March 2024), but it also stands on its own. Martha, Felina, Kim, Marie, Karl, Lena, Adrian, Emma, Larissa, Clara, Bela, and Nora have been meeting week after week since the beginning of the season. They experiment with scenes, tell stories, sing, and explore movement. Sometimes, they simply debate.

The starting point for this play’s development was existential questions: Why is all this happening? Why am I here? Why—at all? Inspired by their collective reading of Albert Camus' The Rebel, the protagonists search for answers—only to uncover more questions: What role does the absurd play when it becomes the norm? How can one still revolt? And where is the cat?

Through their engagement with Camus, Sisyphus made his way into the space, proving himself an ancient rebel. He joins others: figures from pop culture, from history, some long gone, some still alive, all sending signals into the present and continuing to inspire.

Because when the lights go up on stage at the premiere on March 6, they will all be lying there—defying the world, wrapped in blankets to shield themselves from the evils outside. Only to, over the course of the evening, shed their covers, reveal themselves, and offer answers—or discover new questions.

A teenpark production
Age recommendation: 12+
Premiere: 06.03.2025

Cast

By and with Martha, Felina, Kim, Marie, Karl, Lena, Adrian, Emma, Larissa, Clara and Bela
Direction: Kerstin Lenhart ∙ Stage design: Julia Plickat ∙ Costumes: Tine Müller ∙ Dramaturgy: Josef Bäcker ∙ Music: Tim Helbig ∙ Make-up: Heike Lindemann ∙ Assistant Director & Dramaturgical Collaboration: Nora Tschuwana

Photos »TROTZ« (c) Joachim Dette

Press and Audience Reactions

“People have different ideas about what it is worth being defiant against. On stage we deliberately leave this somewhat open and don’t push anyone to see this or that form of defiance as the ultimate kind of resistance.”
…
“During rehearsals we performed improvisational shows based on certain keywords and then developed them further. In addition, we collected many examples of famous men and women in history who stood their ground and impressed us, and we incorporated these into the piece.”
(Marie, a performer in “Defiance”, in a conversation with Stadtmagazin 07 / March 2025, p. 6)

“‘Defiance’ is angry, powerful, energetic. It brings tears to your eyes when the protagonists of the piece anxiously ask what kind of future they can expect. Why society allows democracy to fall apart. Why a teacher, out of fear of outraged parents, asks a student to remove the rainbow flag from the noticeboard in the classroom. It is the perfect piece for a theatre visit on March 8. It is loud, indignant, and right through to its core.”
(Benedikt, an audience member of the production)

“‘Defiance’ – sadly I’ve hardly read anything about it in the media: a refreshing, rousing piece; a production like this is so important in today’s times! If I lived in Jena, I would definitely go and see it a second time!”
(Claudia, audience member of the production)

“Unfortunately, the piece has a misleading title. Defiance sounds like an unreflective preschool child and stagnation. What the team under the direction of Kerstin Lenhart brings across on stage is pure power. It is a storm; reflection that turns your view of the world forward. Anyone who is despairing of the world these days should have seen Defiance and carry a bit of the young people’s energy with them into this spring.”
(Christian, audience member of the production)“DEFIANCE – 11 young people, all between 14 and 18 years old, come together in the Teen Park and, under the professional guidance of Kerstin Lenhardt, bring a highly explosive, emotional piece to the theatre stage that is an absolute must-see.
The young people ‘sacrificed’ their entire winter holidays to discuss, experiment, and finally rehearse! On the days of the performances they had working days of more than 12 hours, as all of them also attend school ‘on the side.’
The result truly could—and still can—be heard and seen in the fullest sense of the word. The basic idea, DEFIANCE, was given, but the piece itself was developed by the young people: texts were written and developed by themselves. One could say that DEFIANCE is the product of eleven truly wonderful young people.
In May there will be three more performances. All I can say is: see for yourselves what our youth at Theaterhaus Jena are capable of—it’s worth it!!! This achievement gives courage, strength, and hope and … opens all of our eyes!”
(Gerd S., audience member of the production)