Raven
by still hungry
In 2019, we produced the piece Raven alongside the Berlin-based artist collective still hungry. still hungry are one of the few all-female collectives in Germany whose works reflect this fact. Raven tours internationally, all current dates can be found here.
About the show:
#regrettingmotherhood – This study by Israeli sociologist Orna Donath caused a worldwide uproar in 2015. In it, several women confessed to regretting being a mother, triggering a heated discussion about motherhood and the demands that come with it.
Torn between contradictory longings and societal expectations, the acrobats and mothers of the Berlin-based artist collective still hungry put this tension on stage.
Raven is award-winning contemporary circus in search of liberation from the social pressure of always having to do everything right. Borrowing from the German term “Rabenmutter” (“Raven mother”, a selfish, neglecting mother) the performers paint a candid picture of complex emotional contradictions. With acrobatics and dance, movement and language, they grapple with the various challenges of their own motherhood. In the process, mistakes are not only made visible, but are also open to hearty laughter.
The personal experiences of Anke van Engelshoven, Lena Ries and Romy Seibt remain at the heart of the performance and lend Raven much of its honesty and vulnerability, as well as its lightness, humor, and charm. The performers take the liberty of regretting it all, only to shout out how much they love it all in the very next moment. This inner conflict becomes all the more clear, when Anke, Lena and Romy create chaos in feathery Raven jackets, loudly challenging the status quo and inviting us to question any preconceived notions we may have about working mothers, women, and circus performers.
Raven thus becomes a powerful examination of a problem that has preoccupied societies around the world for generations – and which Corona makes even more relevant, as traditional role models suddenly reappear and working mothers must increasingly juggle the demands of jobs and children due to closed daycares and home office.
Raven was made with creative support from British director Bryony Kimmings and won multiple awards at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Awards and Accolades:
WINNER of The Scotsman Fringe First Award 2019
Shortlisted for the Total Theatre Award for Circus 2019
WINNER of the ThreeWeeks Edinburgh Editors’ Award 2019
Nominee for the International Circus Awards 2021 in the categories „Outstanding Emerging Company“ & „Outstanding Achievement in Dramaturgy“
In the press:
The Scotsman
Beautiful and spectacular… Among many other glorious qualities, Raven is particularly striking for the pitch-perfect ease with which it combines language and movement
Broadway Baby
An excellent hour of circus, physical theatre, and dance digging into what the performers gave up, and what they refuse to let go of
ThreWeeks Edinburgh
When it all comes together it’s incredibly powerful, and I was wholly unprepared for the effect it would have on me
EdFest Mag
Contemporary feminist circus… strong and rousing
The Circus Diaries
Heroes. Rock ‘n’ Roll goddesses
Voice Mag
Raven is impressive, feminist and creative and undoubtedly not one to miss out on
Creative Team:
Co-Authors and Performers:
Anke van Engelshoven, Lena Ries, Romy Seibt
Co-Directed by: Rachel Hameleers
Creative Support: Bryony Kimmings
Producer: Anke Politz
Light Design: Dennis Nähr
Costume Design: Odile Hautemulle
Setdesign: Daniele Drobny
Technical Director Touring: Reinhard Bichsel
Genre: Contemporary Circus
Age recommendation: 6+
Duration: 55 min
Stage size: min. 10 x 7m, 6m height
Venue capacity: up to 500
Touring party: 4
Available language versions: German, English or French. Surtitles possible.
Audience discussion, sign language on request.
The creation of Raven was supported by the Senate Department for Culture and Europe.
About the Company:
still hungry is a contemporary circus collective from Berlin. The three artists and mothers Romy, Anke, and Lena reunited after long years of friendship to create a piece of innovative circus. Powerful images and a good sense of humour make their work truly touching and highly amusing. Their work is fresh, feminist, strong, and unafraid to tackle even intensely personal subjects that don’t lend themselves easily to circus, a genre that is still primarily associated with entertainment.
For their creation Raven, still hungry collaborated with Bryony Kimmings as creative advisor, a director and performance artist famous for her emotionally intelligent, provocative and refreshing style.
Tour Dates:
Coming soon!
Past Performances:
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen, Winterfest Salzburg, Berlin Circus Festival, London International Mime Festival, New Circus Weekend Vilnius, Krapoldi im Park, Chamäleon Berlin, LOFFT-Theater Leipzig, HELLERAU, Kulturhuset Stockholm, St. John’s International Circus Festival (Canada), International Theatre Festival of Badajoz (Spain), Canada-tour
Booking Contact:
For booking and material requests please contact: carolina@auroranova.org or claudius@auroranova.org
