Human Trade Network

Labour migration is one of the largest challenges facing societies in the 21st century. In global price wars, human beings are sold or at least traded at a profit. The project “Human Trade Network” has addressed this topic in an international context and attempted to create a global theatre and temporary research network spanning three continents. Four theatres in India, Romania, Burkina Faso and Germany have been investigating the causes, structures and effects of human trafficking and the exploitation of labour. Each has developed an independent production which mutually referenced the others. The partners have supported each other with interviews and documentary material. The projects featured a broad range of themes and presented stories that tied the four countries together. They told the story of Romanian workers in Germany’s cost-efficient meat production facilities, Eastern European sex workers who travel from Bucharest to Breisgau, surrogate mothers, international adoptions and the market for talented football players. The plays have been produced for audiences in the respective countries; guest performances at the partner theatres have been taking place. All four productions have been shown at a festival in Freiburg lasting several days and were accompanied by a theatre congress, presentations and discussion series.

Artistic director: Clemens Bechtel
Stage directors: Gianina Carbunariu (RO), Ildevert Meda & Luca Fusi (BF), Abhishek Majumdar (IN)