Artistic direction, director, text: Sophia Süßmilch / Dramaturgy, co-direction: Jette Büchsenschütz / Co-dramaturgy, sensitivity reading: Achan Malonda / Assistance to direction: Eva Weibel / Performance: Pauline Afaja, Ilgen-Nur Borali (vocals, guitar, bass), Neneh Boye Sowe (violin), Jemima Rose Dean, Henrike Henoch (vocals, piano), Lelah Neary, Lucia Peraza Rios, Jeanna Serikbayeva, Sophia Süßmilch, Leni Ulrich / 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: Leo Schneidermann / Musical direction, composition, arrangements: Henrike Henoch, Ilgen-Nur Borali / Choreography: Jeanna Serikbayeva / Choreography consulting: Lelah Neary, Jemima Rose Dean, Jeanna Serikbayeva / 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: Ellen Gallagher (Panthea) / Audio description: Irene Baumann, Birgit Martini / Sound and sound design: Torsten Schwarzbach (HAU) / Artistic consultation: Petra Poelzl (HAU) / Technical direction: Sujin Choi, Amina Nouns (HAU), Hendrik Borowski (HAU) / Production management: Chiara Galesi (HAU)
Sophia Süßmilch / HAU
Something Terrible Will Happen: The Cannibal Woman
- Performance
German /
English /
with German and English surtitles /
90 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 that brings together dance, drama and music. 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 a collaborative artistic process, shaped and driven by an intersectional team, a visually striking world emerges, blending absurdity, the grotesque, clowns’ aesthetics and music.
“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
Dates
Past
Further Information
Visitor note
Performances on 12.+13.9.: Part of Berlin Art Week 2026
Price: 12–38 €, reduced 9–25 €
After the premiere on 12.9.: Break @WAU with DJ set by 2gay2tek
The Artist Talk on 13.9. unfortunately cannot take place.
15.9., 18:15: Introduction with Sylvia Sadzinski / German
16.9.: German audio description / haptic access tour (18:00)
Credits
Production: Sophia Süßmilch / HAU Hebbel am Ufer. Funded by: Hauptstadtkulturfonds.
Location
HAU1
Stresemannstr. 29, 10963 BerlinThere 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.
