Balkan Express

In the interdisciplinary music theater project Balkan Express, staged at Theater am Domhof Osnabrück, the audience embarks on a time-traveling journey through the cultural and political landscape of the former Yugoslavia. Spanning from its utopian founding as a non-aligned state between East and West to its fragmentation and the siege of Sarajevo, the production weaves together Balkan brass, Schlager, rock, opera, symphonic music, and the poetry of Faruk Šehić. With a cast including Susanna Edelmann (Mädchen), Sascha Maria Icks (Lepa), Jan Friedrich Eggers (Jugo-Boss), and Stefan Haschke (Entertainer), alongside the Dance Company Osnabrück, Opernchor des Theater Osnabrück, and Osnabrücker Symphonieorchester with Stage-Band musicians, the piece blends music, literature, and movement into a nostalgic reflection on a lost dream of unity. From poetic monologues to explosive musical interludes, Balkan Express offers a multi-layered exploration of memory, identity, and the enduring resonance of a region torn between past and future.

Musical Direction: Daniel Inbal

Stage Direction: Ulrich Mokrusch

Choreography: Blenard Azizaj

Choreographic Assistance: László Nyakas and Rowan Schratzberger

Set Design: Timo Dentler

Costumes: Okarina Peter

Lighting Design: Julian Rickert

Sound Design: Tim Klöpper

Music Arrangements: Kai Lünnemann

Dramaturgy: Juliane Piontek and Britta Aliena Horwath

Photography: Rowan Schratzberger