Silicon Dreams

In the organizer's words:

Without microchips, our world would stand still: they control smartphones, vehicles, power grids, communication systems, stock exchanges and military systems. Microchips are not only technical components, but also key geopolitical factors. With "Silicon Dreams", OutOfTheBox focuses on the microchip as a global instrument of power and a driver of regional strategies for the future.

What is often overlooked: The microchip industry has a long history in East Germany. Research and production of microelectronics was already underway in the GDR. A highly specialized industry has survived to this day, particularly in Saxony, which is once again becoming the focus of international attention in the wake of new high-tech settlements.

"Silicon Dreams" invites the audience to immerse themselves in this little-known past and a possible digital future. In an object theater performance, documentary material meets specially developed software and hardware objects. Between historical finds and speculative scenarios, a multi-layered space is created that interweaves the past, present and future of the microchip in East Germany.

OutOfTheBox develops speculative software and creates performative experiential spaces at the interface of theater, media art and game design.

Concept, artistic direction OutOfTheBox (Susanne Schuster, Ricardo Gehn) Head of software and hardware Ricardo Gehn Game design, collaboration on software and hardware Anton Kurt Krause Dramaturgy, communication Tina Ebert Dramaturgy, production Merle Mühlhausen Collaboration on set design Neïtah Janzing Production management Susanne Schuster

A big thank you to our interview partners: Anonym, Antonia Hmaidi (Senior Analyst Mercator Institute for China Studies), Prof. Dr. Bernd Junghans, Kerstin Kinszorra, René Meyer, Julia Nitzschner (Silicon Saxony), Heiko Weckbrodt (Historian & Journalist) and Christof Windeck. As well as the Laft Niedersachsen.

Co-production with LOFFT - DAS THEATER.

Cooperation with GoetheEXIL Hannover, Schaubude Berlin, Theaterhaus Hildesheim

Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste from funds of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture, the Lower Saxony Foundation and the Cultural Office of the City of Leipzig.