ja nichts ist ok

Shortly before his sudden death in February of 2024 and in a joint work with Fabian Hinrichs, René Pollesch gave a final and extraordinary display of why he was counted among the most significant protagonists of contemporary theatre. In “ja nichts ist ok”, a flat-share for convenience in Berlin becomes a burning lens on the crises of our present times. With humour and zeal, Fabian Hinrichs plays all the flatmates who are arguing about the messiness of the flat and about global wars. Within the complicated changes from one character to the next, and absurd dialogues between political tension and personal shortcomings, the disjointedness of humankind in the 21st century becomes apparent, the deep helplessness in the face of multiple crises, and the longing for true encounters. Despite these rather dark topics, Pollesch and Hinrichs have created a moving and entertaining show that will leave a lasting impression.

Statement of the Jury

The saddest show of the past year, a sudden severance and a legacy: René Pollesch’s untimely death can no longer be separated from this, his final work. But even regardless of its grievous circumstances, “ja nichts ist ok” is a culmination of the longstanding, close co-operation with his ally Fabian Hinrichs. In a shared flat with none of the other residents present, Hinrichs literally acts himself to pieces, while images of war are flickering across TV-screens. “Is it a crime to be cheerful?” he asks at one point, and in moments like these, the irresolvable contradictions of our time appear to crystallise in a manner that is seldom seen in the theatre. A hyper-reflected world-weariness expands towards the edges of the absurd. Finally, the protagonist, and with him the author and his text, are buried underneath the warm bodies of extras. Just an end, and yet a farewell made of embraces.

Tojuror Janis El-Bira’s video statement on “ja nichts ist ok” (in German)

ProgrammeNote (pdf, 50 KB)