Premiere in Cologne: Viola Neumann’s gripping play The Experiment”

Premiere in Cologne: Viola Neumann’s gripping play The Experiment”

There is a bit of excitement in Cologne, because the Free Workshop Theater will soon be celebrating the premiere of “The Experiment”. The director and actress Viola Neumann will bring the piece to the stage in July 2025, and the anticipation is great. The production is based on the novel of the same name by Mario Giordano and opens up an exciting and critical space around the topics of power and identity in extreme situations.

At the center of the plot are test subjects who take part in a psychological study in which they are divided into prisoners and guards. The characters' decisions and behavior are heavily influenced by their respective development, resulting in impulsive and often violent scenes. In these moments, the characters no longer act consciously - a haunting aspect that will captivate the audience.

Relation to psychological research

Neumann's work is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also has a clear connection to the famous Stanford study from 1971. This experiment, carried out under the direction of Philip Zimbardo, put human behavior to the test under extreme conditions. The participants at the time were divided into two groups: guards and prisoners, and the effects of these roles made the experiment a scandalous chapter in psychology.

The Stanford Prison Experiment, which was ultimately aborted after six days due to massive emotional breakdowns, raises significant ethical questions that are also addressed in Neumann's performance. Characters in the play relate to some of the moral dilemmas associated with Zimbardo's research. These critical themes are particularly relevant when considering the dynamics of power and abuse addressed in the play.

Creative elements in the production

Neumann also uses creative methods to illuminate the emotional and ethical aspects of the topic. For example, at a press conference she used a cookie jar with images of damaged toys - a powerful symbol of the loss of innocence and the destruction of the past of the subjects in the play. In addition, Neumann describes in an interview the deeper meaning of a damaged cuddly toy that illustrates the vulnerable side of human existence.

The distribution of roles is influenced not only by the characters, but also by the actors' personal moments. Non-violence is playfully alluded to and the actors are given the opportunity to write their own monologues, which makes the piece all the more dynamic and emotional.

With performances taking place from July 4th to 11th, 2025, “Das Experiment” is open to viewers aged 16 and over. The production deals with forms of violence and psychological violence and conveys a strong statement about people in extreme situations - a topic that remains highly topical in the context of other psychological studies, such as the Milgram experiment.

Overall, Viola Neumann's approach has a good knack for creating a piece that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Don't miss this memorable production in the Free Workshop Theater!