Polaris is a groundbreaking mocumentary-theatrical project by director Jan-Christoph Gockel, a co-production of the Deutsches Theater Berlin with the Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen and Théâtre National du Luxembourg. This surreal and innovative work blends documentary film with theater, exploring themes of isolation, science, and the human condition against the backdrop of Antarctica.

In January 2026, Gockel traveled to the Neumayer Station III in Antarctica with filmmaker Lion Bischof and actors Julia Gräfner and Wolfram Koch. The project is inspired by a real 2018 incident where two Russian researchers stationed in Antarctica had a violent altercation. The resulting piece transforms this incident into a meditation on human limits, international collaboration, and the fragile nature of our shared spaces.

The production combines documentary footage, live performance, music by Anton Berman, and stunning visual design to create a unique theatrical experience that challenges the boundaries between cinema and stage. A Berlin premiere of this ambitious world-premiere production.

Kammer theater, 4+ hours (check venue for breaks).

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