Company Benjamin Richter

“RAPT” (Work-In-Progress Showing)

Sunday 02.11.2025, 17:00 hrs

RAPT begins with our problematic relationship to the word “more”, which has brought humanity both knowledge and self-destruction, where it now teeters between ecstatic pleasure and absolute catastrophe. In a world made of paper, performer Benjamin Richter develops a choreographic journey of juggling, dance and clowning that subtly expresses the restless desire for “more”. The paper comes into its own in all its materiality: it flies, falls, piles up again, is draped and juggled. Accompanied by a live sound collage, “RAPT” is not a linear narrative, but a web of encounters: Human and object, abundance and care, fragility and perseverance.

A work-in-progress excerpt will be shown in BARNES CROSSING, the premiere of the entire piece will follow in January 2025 at the Orangerie Theater Cologne.

RAPT is funded by: Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of NRW, NRW Landesbüro Freie Darstellende Künste and Cultural Office of the City of Cologne.

Concept, choreography & performance: Benjamin Richter

Concept & dramaturgy: Jenny Patschovsky

Lighting design: Garlef Keßler

Sound design: Maxi Estudies

Graphics: Dominikus Moos

Benjamin Richter

The juggler and dancer Benjamin Richter has been exploring the interfaces between circus, dance and objects for 35 years. With his unmistakable playful language, he has shown his work worldwide and collaborated with Gandini Juggling and Cirkus Cirkör, among others.

Jenny Patschovsky

Jenny Patschovsky has been shaping contemporary circus in Germany for over 20 years – as a producer, dramaturge, networker and aerial artist, including on the board of the Bundesverband Zeitgenössischer Zirkus, at the Cologne-based association Atemzug, Labor Cirque and at the Bauhaus Dessau.

Garlef Keßler

Garlef Keßler works as a lighting designer and technical director for mouvoir, Overhead Project and Un-Label, among others. He has been the technical director of LATIBUL Cologne since 2011 and accompanies numerous independent dance and theater productions.

Maxi Estudies

Maximiliano Estudies is a sound designer between music and technology. Based in Cologne since 2010, he works for contemporary music festivals such as Acht Brücken, for WDR, the Cologne University of Music and Dance and is a member of the electronicID ensemble.

Dominikus Moss

Dominikus Moss is an artist, designer & editor of tadaa magazine and project & process manager of CCCC e.V. Cologne.

BLOOOM – a new production by Teatro 4Garoupas

A poetic fairy tale about growing up and the big questions in life.

Gargardenia can’t take it anymore! The adults are constantly whispering in her ear: “My little plant,
my little flower, my little rose” – animal names that are usually followed by swear words, insults or other unkind remarks. She begins to feel like the potted plants that are scattered everywhere.
How do they do it? They grow – and sometimes they even bloom – even without proper nourishment!

Today she dares to venture out into nature, which until now has meant nothing but dirt, mud and wet feet.
And there… Nature, nature: pure boredom. But in the great outdoors she makes some truly astonishing discoveries. But don’t just take our word for it, see for yourself!

CREATIVE TEAM
Choreography: Andreas Denk & Eugenia Labuhn
Dramaturgy: Arno Kleinofen

GARGADENIA GARAGENIA: Eugênia Labuhn
Creative production: Bebê de Soares
Duration: 40min
Age: 5+
Photos: @sanchesphotography
Videos: Jack Sticka
Production: Teatro 4Garoupas