Stefanie Oberhoff / Gütesiegel Kultur * + Snuff Puppets (DE/AUS)

‘Flies from all over the world come to Erlangen, they sit on the walls, crawl across squares and perch on roofs, the buzzing becomes unbearable. A sixteen-metre-high Punch comes with his giant fly swatter and wants to put an end to the spook: a gigantic dance of death on the subject of resistance, diversity, variety and solidarity.’

This is how Stuttgart-based artist Stefanie Oberhoff describes her newly conceived spectacle, which will celebrate its premiere at the festival. The set designer, puppeteer and director is one of the outstanding political theatre makers who work with puppets, but whose significance extends far beyond the puppet theatre scene. Her interdisciplinary approach between performing and visual arts, her participatory way of working and her engagement with public space are particularly exciting. In this way, she succeeds in bringing issues such as racism, gender equality and globalisation to the wider society.

Since 2016, Stefanie Oberhoff has been working with various cooperation partners and international teams in different countries to develop large-scale performances for public spaces as part of laboratories. In addition to their thematic focus, these performances are always a celebration of cosmopolitanism – they break down the boundaries between art and the city. The performances in public spaces, which include the animation of a giant figure, become symbols of joint action and love for other cultures.

For the ‘Year of the Fly 2025’, Stefanie Oberhoff collaborates with Snuff Puppets from Melbourne, among others. Before the project is finalized ahead of the festival in Erlangen in May, the first laboratories have already taken place in Melbourne, and Stuttgart. Similar to the numerous performances of previous projects, the show will continue to develop after its premiere in Erlangen and will be performed at various locations over several years.