Heading Praterstern: Everyday life between memory and tragedy in Melk!

Heading Praterstern: Everyday life between memory and tragedy in Melk!

Melk, Österreich - On June 18, 2025, the spectacle "Praterstern. Scenes from our tragicomic life" by Michael Köhlmeier and Monika Helfer will be premiered in the WachauArena in Melk. Already on June 16, a matinee took place in the Melk Garden Pavilion, to which artistic director Alexander Hauer and Köhlmeier invited. The theme of the Matinee, "healing itself", comes from the piece and treats the complex nature of memory that Köhlmeier sees as selective and often as a form of self -fraud.

Köhlmeier made it clear that forgetting and repression can also be a necessary art of living. His thoughts on reality reflect Ingeborg Bachmann's dictum on truth in history and in private. The piece gains topicality, as it also deals with a terrorist attack, the shock of which is reinforced by the killing spree in Graz. Despite external disasters, personal concerns remain a central topic in the factory.

about the piece and its development

The process of creation of "Praterstern" was characterized by a separate but intensive communication between Köhlmeier and helper, which took place primarily by email. In the Matinee, Köhlmeier expressed his expectation that the play would result in the tradition of great myths, but this is not the case. Instead, it is described as "praise of everyday life", as Hauer made clear in his moderation.

The work focuses on everyday stories that act on encounters, imponderables and the little joys of life. The figures are characterized by their special features and weaknesses with which the audience can sympathize. The direction leads to Christina Gegenbauer, supported by a creative team, which Anja Lichtenegger for the stage design, Julia Klug for the costume picture and Nikolaj Efendi for the music.

Praterstern: A cultural context

The title "Praterstern" refers to an urban traffic junction of historical importance, which serves as a forecourt to an amusement park. The place is a symbol of encounter and drifting apart from people and stories of daily life. In this context, coincidences, beauty and the great goals of life are discussed, while the dialogues are easily and humorous.

The ensemble, consisting of talented actors such as Julia Cencig, Hemma Clementi and Wolfgang Lesky, will bring the multifaceted characters to life. The work is an order work of the Melk summer games and places a special focus on the proximity to the characters and their everyday fights, as Köhlmeier emphasizes.

The premiere of the play will take place on June 18 at 8:15 p.m. and the performance rights are at Thomas Sessler Verlag. The special commitment of artists and the implementation in Melk can be seen as part of a wider cultural landscape that is also enriched by initiatives such as the International Theater in Frankfurt.