The concept was developed by a large team including Florian Loycke (Das Helmi master-mind), Johannes Lange , and bondage artist Dasniya Sommer , whose influence was felt in the intricate rope-work and "SM-inflected" visuals used to cage Gullivera. Why It Mattered
The protagonist was reimagined as a woman, "Gullivera," used as a vessel to explore themes of feminism and female liberation. Gulliveras Reise - Staatstheater Oldenburg 2017...
Forget the Disneyfied versions of Jonathan Swift’s classic. This production turned the narrative on its head—literally. The concept was developed by a large team
In April 2017, the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater opened its doors to something far beyond a traditional fairy tale. To kick off the —a celebration of "new performative alliances"—the theater staged "Gulliveras Reise / Die Rache" (Gullivera’s Journey / The Revenge), a radical collaboration between the puppet-theater collective Das Helmi and the performance group Markus&Markus . A Radical Reimagining This production turned the narrative on its head—literally
The production was a true ensemble effort, characterized by shared creative roles rather than a single director.
True to Das Helmi's style, the play used "loose associations" and a revue-like structure rather than a strictly linear plot, blending high-concept satire with raw, physical performance. The Creative Team Behind the Madness