Sophia Süßmilch / HAU

Something Terrible Will Happen: The Cannibal Woman

  • Performance
German /  English /  with German and English surtitles /  90–120 mins.

An evening exploring the power of anger and what happens when it escalates.

Something has spiralled out of control. Beneath the surface of a rationalised, exhausted society, emotions for which there is no longer any space are building up: fear, grief, longing – and anger. But who, anyway, has the right to be angry?

Female bodies have always been at the centre of social projections, control and appropriation. They are consumed, judged, regulated and desired – sexually, emotionally, reproductively, visually and, increasingly, digitally. At the same time, there is a deep-rooted fear of angry women. Female anger is seen as hysterical, irrational, dangerous.

With “Something Terrible Will Happen: The Cannibal Woman”, the Berlin artist Sophia Süßmilch is developing her first production at a theatre at HAU – a performance about female anger and repressed emotions. At its heart is the cannibal, who radically reverses the familiar dynamic: she is no longer the object of consumption, but becomes the consuming subject herself.

Through an interdisciplinary interplay of dance, drama and music, a visually striking world emerges, blending horror, the grotesque, clowns’ aesthetics and musical excess.

“Something Terrible Will Happen: The Cannibal Woman” explores experienced violence, tamed bodies and the questions: Where does the anger go? What happens when it strikes back?

Team

Artistic direction, director, text: Sophia Süßmilch / Dramaturgy, co-direction: Jette Büchsenschütz / Co-dramaturgy, sensitivity reading: Achan Malonda / Assistance to direction: Eva Weibel / Outside eye: collectif blitzbereit (Matilde Flor, Julie Savery, Eva Weibel) / Stage design: Theresa Scheitzenhammer, Sophia Süßmilch / Costumes: Julia Bosch, Sophia Süßmilch / Make-up: Janina Zais / Lighting design: Lea Schneidermann / Musical direction, composition, arrangements: Henrike Henoch, Ilgen-Nur Borali / Choreography Consulting: Lelah Neary, Jemima Rose Dean, Jeanna Serikbayeva / Performance: Pauline Afaja, Ilgen-Nur Borali (Gitarre), Neneh Boye Sowe (Violine), Jemima Rose Dean, Henrike Henoch (Gesang, Klavier), Lelah Neary, Lucia Peraza Rios, Jeanna Serikbayeva, Sophia Süßmilch, Leni Ulrich / Assistance to production management: Jasna Witkoski / Artistic collaboration Stage and Costumes: Rosina Zeus, Svenja Dübbert, Jeanne Eschert, Eva Garland, Arnita Jaunsubrēna , Simon Kernen / Photography, making-of: Lee Everett Thieler / Video documentation: Talin Seigmann / Translation, Setup and operating of surtitles: Panthea / Audio description: Irene Baumann, Birgit Martini / Artistic consultation: Petra Poelzl (HAU) / Technical direction: Sujin Choi, Amina Nouns (HAU) / Production management: Chiara Galesi (HAU)

Dates

Current
  • Premiere
    Sat 12.9.2026, 20:00 / HAU1
  • Sun 13.9.2026, 18:00 / HAU1
  • Tue 15.9.2026, 19:00 / HAU1
  • Wed 16.9.2026, 19:00 / HAU1

Further Information

Visitor note

Recommended for ages 16 and up.

After the premiere on 12.9.: Break @WAU DJ-Set by 2gay2tek

After the performance on 13.9.: Artist Talk 

15.9.: 18:15 Introduction

16.9.: performance with German audio description / haptic access tour (6pm).

Credits

Production: Sophia Süßmilch / HAU Hebbel am Ufer. Funded by: Hauptstadtkulturfonds.

Location

HAU1
Stresemannstr. 29, 10963 Berlin

There are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Access to the Parkett by means of a separate entrance with lift when necessary. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available.

HAU3000 / Positions, Projects, Publications