Spielplatz 37

Around the age of four, children develop the ability to consciously tell untruths. Lying is both a taboo and a step towards independence. Sometimes it may be seen as a harmless fib, at other times as an admired trick, and yet at other times as an unforgivable deception. To uncover lies, we focus on external signs: seemingly telling facial expressions, gestures, or behaviors. Lies have their own theatricality, and there is said to be a connection between people who are good at lying and those who are good at acting. In children's and youth literature, from Pinocchio to Pippi Longstocking, there is a multitude of passionate deceivers. SPIELPLATZ 37 brings together five contemporary plays for young people that particularly address the phenomenon of lying: Ulrich Hub's 'Trojaner' revolves around the most famous deception of antiquity, the Trojan Horse, as well as today's internet scams. Wajdi Mouawad's title character 'Alfons' is known as a notorious liar, with the text itself becoming increasingly entangled in his incredible stories. What truths are children capable of handling, and which ones do we prefer to turn a blind eye to? These questions are explored in Jens Raschke's 'What the Rhino Saw When It Looked Over the Fence.' Thilo Reffert has adapted Carlo Collodi's 'Pinocchio,' a proverbial liar, for the stage. And 'All the Evidence in the World' by Lucie Vérot tells of a quest for truth that leads to conspiracy theories and fake news.