Wunder der Prärie

Live-Art Festival

Person in Camouflage Militäruniform wäscht jemandem die Füße.

Zwei Fraun in olivgrünen Kleidern greifen sich gegenseitig in den Mund, um sich dort festzuhalten und lehnen sich nach hinten

grünliche Gipshände stehen auf einem weiß beleuchteten Untergrund und zeigen in die Höhe

Zwei Personen stehen in einer alten Werkstatt, vor sich ein Tisch mit Gerümpel. Eine der Personen hält eine Puppe in der Hand und sägt ihr in den Kopf

Person im Vordergrund hat eine Boxerpose angenommen und schaut konzentriert nach rechts. Im Hintergrund spielt eine Person auf einer Trommel

Frau, blau von einem Bildschirm beleuchtet schaut angestrengt Richtung Kamera

The live art festival “Wunder der Prärie” takes place every two years in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. With performance, dance and cross-genre projects at the interface with theater and visual arts, the festival has been presenting contemporary art forms in the southwest of Germany since 2004. A motto relevant to contemporary society provides the starting point and framework for the works shown. The festival sees itself as working in and with the city in order to stimulate social discourse and act as an initiator and catalyst for social processes. Wunder der Prärie is one of the top 15 festivals in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.

The motto of Wunder der Prärie in 2025 is Theaters of War(s).

Wunder der Prärie 2025: „Theaters of War(s)"

Participation and individual responsibility for peace and cohesion in society - an artistic approach

We look at our present with fear and helplessness. Climate change and wars are ubiquitous for more and more people. The alleged security architecture is beginning to totter. The world seems to be coming more and more apart. Questions about war and the military surround us every day and concern everyone.

With “Theatres of War(s)”, zeitraumexit invites the audience to spend ten days questioning the warlike history of our present and past, taking various temporal and geographical perspectives by means of various artistic formats as well as in dialogue through an accompanying series of talks.

The title, derived from the Latin ‘Theatrum Belli’, which became established for theaters of war in the early modern period, refers to the methodical attempt to approach the topic not only intellectually, but also associatively and physically. We aim to create a place for art and public participation. A space for experience and empathy in which fears are also permitted. A playful opportunity to adopt different positions and explore grey areas. An alternative to simplistic populist slogans. In favour of a democratic and inclusive discourse.

Ethical, legal and economic aspects are linked to the topic of military issues. We want to confront the challenges that exceed the existential self-efficacy of each individual and counteract the (experienced) individual powerlessness through exchange and shared experience.

Building on 20 years of experience and the orientation of ‘zeitraumexit’, we will open the festival with guests from Namibia and a joint parade through Mannheim city centre.