It is impossible to put a catastrophe into words, to frame it as a story, otherwise it becomes a tragedy. A tragedy has a beginning and an end. The catastrophe at the Love Parade in Duisburg on 24.07.2010 has no end. The case investigating the death of 21 people was closed in 2020 without any convictions. The play “L_VEPAR_DE – eine Verblendung” (“L_VEPAR_DE – A Blinding Delusion”) tells of a traumatised city and the pressing question of who is responsible that remains unanswered to this day. And it tells of the paralysing state of shock we experience in the face of inexpressible catastrophe.

Selection committee statement excerpt:
“The theatre-makers … have succeeded in producing such a fine example of documentary theatre. (…)
Again and again, highly emotional moments unfold, without allowing the production to lapse into voyeurism. (…)
This Duisburg production is a building block in the process of coming to terms with the catastrophe which can sensitise young people to take a closer look.”