10 Days of Free Swimming

For the past two decades, the international production platform “Freischwimmen” (Free Swimming) has supported promising young artists on the national and international stage. It has helped them develop their unique artistic style with residencies, dramaturgical and organisational consulting, and guest performance exchanges. Now that the first generation of young talent has firmly established itself, the festival poses the question of what it’s like to get older in a crisis-ridden age – and how best to address the topic of ageing in the cultural sector. To mark its 20th anniversary, Freischwimmen will be staging the festival “10 Days of Free Swimming” in Stuttgart in cooperation with the independent scene in Baden-Württemberg. The organisers wish to explore how to sustainably promote networking and offer long-term support to those who work in the cultural sector. How does the desire for greater environmental sustainability, as well as the sombre predictions regarding retirement impact the artistic practice of internationally active dance and theatre artists?

The festival will showcase two premieres and four guest performances of theatre, dance and performance productions by its network alumni, including Caroline Creutzburg and René Alejandro Huari Mateus, Hendrik Quast, Milo Rau and Lulu Obermayer. Freischwimmen alumni are developing a special programme for the festival in collaboration with selected young artists who are currently supported by the organisation. They plan to organise a cultural project in urban space, namely to revive a closed-down swimming hall in Cannstatt where young and old can reflect on concrete non-statutory welfare. At two separate weekends, the “Age Academy” will address the challenges, influences, visible manifestations and relationships linked to age(ing). The festival includes an accompanying programme with installations and workshops.

Artistic director: Bastian Sistig
Participating artists: Caroline Creutzburg, Ceylan Öztrük, Criptonite, God’s Entertainment, Herbordt/Mohren, Markus&Markus, Lulu Obermayer, Hendrik Quast, Milo Rau, Rotterdam Presenta, Turbo Pascal and others
Festival: Theater Rampe / JES / FITZ / JOIN Junge Oper im Nord / Schauspiel Stuttgart / Kunstverein Wagenhallen / Freischwimmen Produktionsplattform, Stuttgart: 25 Apr. – 4 May 2024