How to make a life

In September 2026, Mousonturm will devote an 18-day focus to the often neglected topic of age(ing).

The programme highlights international and intergenerational perspectives. It responds to demographic change: noticeable in this country through the retirement of the baby boomers, and in the Global South through the precarious living conditions of young societies. Premieres and first performances by renowned artists from the worlds of dance, performance and theatre, guest performances, participatory and cross-genre formats promote empathy, dialogue and a change of perspective.

Among other things, Wen Hui is developing a dance piece with women aged 60 and over about the body as an archive; dance pioneer Deborah Hay is presenting a new solo piece that challenges the boundaries with the audience; Faustin Linyekula joins a 75-year-old former dancer on a search for traces of the first National Ballet in Zaire, and Samara Hersch brings young and old together around the theme of sexuality and the internet. The programme responds to debates about demographic change with sensual and aesthetic experiences and questions normative ideas about youth and performance. Women in Frankfurt can participate directly and indirectly in numerous projects. The project aims to reduce the gap between generations and prevent the marginalisation of both older and younger people.

The Künstler:innenhaus Mousonturm is a theatre that opened in 1988 as one of the first independent production houses in Germany. Today, it is internationally regarded as one of the most important and successful independent production centres for independent theatre.