"Changing signs": artist Stefanie Bockermann creates mini-dramas with young people
Half a century ago, the territorial reform that shifted the boundaries of towns and municipalities came into force. The project "Signpost change - 50 years of territorial reform in Münsterland" by the Kulturbüro des Münsterland e.V. takes a closer look at this far-reaching event in five projects. Including: Stefanie Bockermann, freelance theatre teacher and director from Münster. Under the title "Be-/Ent-/Grenzung: mein Heimatgefühl, mein Schutzschild, meine Freiheit", she is working with more than 20 young people from three towns in Münsterland on a personal exploration of the themes of home and borders. The resulting mini-dramas will be performed during the "Schilderwechsel" presentation week in Warendorf.
"When I detach myself from the unwieldiness of the term 'territorial reform' and look at the issues behind it, I end up with questions that are existential for young people: Self-determination versus heteronomy, boundaries versus freedom. It is particularly exciting for theatre work to look at the deep feelings and emotions that are at play then and now when it comes to experiences of loss and the struggle for identity," says Münster-based artist Stefanie Bockermann. It was clear to her from the outset that she wanted to realise the project with young people. The focus of the mini-dramas ranges from questions about "How do I do justice to my parents?" to violence in the family and xenophobia.
The special thing about "Be-/Ent-/Grenzung" is that the final performance consists of three mini-dramas lasting around 15 minutes. Each one focuses on a different aspect and sets different themes for the play. Bockermann has been working on the content together with young people in Warendorf, Lengerich and Ostbevern in several workshops since February. The artist has written the scripts for the mini-dramas based on these dates.
One of the participants at the Kulturwerkstatt in Ostbevern was 14-year-old Eliana. She has already acted and sung in musicals. The schoolgirl says: "What I like about acting is that you can take on other personalities. I'd like to do something like that as a career later on. What I like about the project is getting a different insight into theatre work."
Laura Säumenicht, project manager of "Schilderwechsel" at Kulturbüro des Münsterland e.V., says: "With the selection of 'Be-/Ent-/Grenzung', our jury of experts has honoured a project that addresses the heteronomy caused by the territorial reform on a meta-level: The work with young people and their experiences brings this topic into a current context and makes it tangible. Stefanie Bockermann's project thus offers an exciting and valuable perspective for 'Schilderwechsel'."
The performance of the three mini-dramas will take place as part of the presentation week of "Schilderwechsel" on 11 May from 3 pm in the Sophiensaal in Warendorf. The event is free of charge, please register via the website
"Be-/Ent-/Grenzung" is part of the project "Schilderwechsel - 50 Jahre Gebietsreform im Münsterland". As the organiser, the Kulturbüro Münsterland forms the conceptual and communicative umbrella. Partner institutions of the project and potential points of contact are Burg Hülshoff - Center for Literature (CfL), DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst, FARB - Forum Altes Rathaus Borken, Filmwerkstatt Münster, Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck and Theater im Pumpenhaus.
"Schilderwechsel" is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science NRW (funding programme RKP - Regionales Kultur Programm NRW), Volksbank Westmünsterland eG, Werte-Stiftung-Münsterland and Stiftung Kunst und Kultur Münsterland. The project is also supported by the LWL Cultural Foundation as part of the cultural programme for the anniversary year 2025 "1250 Years of Westphalia". The patron of this cultural programme is Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
All information on "Changing Signs" can be found at www.muensterland.com/schilderwechsel.
