It's summer in a small German town and 21 young people - and a not entirely unimportant chinchilla - are setting off on vacation as if heading towards freedom. Against the backdrop of the calm holiday atmosphere, a coming-of-age story unfolds. Almost everything that life has to offer seems to fit into short scenes: everyday trivialities and large philosophical questions, big feelings and romantic mishaps, daily events and German history. When fate strikes - in the form of a Leopard II tank falling on the school, plus an accident with consequences - the carefree nature of the summer is put to the test.

Jakob Nolte and Michel Decar both studied at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK). In sometimes bizarre and original scenarios, their plays deal with contemporary topics and contexts, which are often made visible through exaggeration and which are thought provoking. In this sense, the play "Das Tierreich" (The Animal Kingdom) is not only a clever, fast-paced coming-of-age drama, but also reflects the big questions of life in a humorous and thoughtful way: Who are we? Why are we the way we are? And why do we sometimes wish to be someone else?
Nolte and Decar have received several awards, including the "Brothers Grimm Prize of the State of Berlin" (2013) and the " Kunstpreis Literatur" (2016), and their works have been performed on major stages, including at Deutsches Theater Berlin.

Prof. Martin Nachbar and Prof. Werner Wölbern will realize this ensemble piece. Sarah Schimke is responsible for the set and costumes. Philipp Weigand will accompany the ensemble as a voice coach.

Direction: Prof. Werner Wölbern und Prof. Martin Nachbar

Set & Costume Design: Sarah Schimke

With the 2nd year acting students: Lilith Borchert, Joshua Grölz, Stina Jähngen, Kevin Krougliak, Hannah Lindner Pina Scheidegger, Elodie Toschek and Pablo Weller de la Torre.