Tiefer Schweb

The deepest point of Lake Constance (Bodensee in German) is a place where mysterious things happen. Also known as ‘Tiefer Schweb’, this spot also happens to be the exact location

where the borders of Germany, Austria and Switzerland come together. An underwater room has been constructed there, and a group of civil servants from the Amtes für Passdokumente und Ansässigkeitsbescheinigungen (Bureau for identity papers and residence permits) descends to this space to try and come up with some solutions for the growing number of problems above water. It is 2046 and the climate problems and flows of refugees have become unmanageable. 

Christoph Marthaler, one of the most important figures in contemporary musical theatre, created Tiefer Schweb at the Münchner Kammerspiele in 2017. It is an absurdist comedy about the brave attempts of the German civil servant population to map out and regulate these problems of the future. Initially, Marthaler has a lot of fun with the officialese for which this particular class is notorious. Incomprehensible phrases such as ‘sustainable redevelopment of the surface’, ‘naturalisation management training’ and ‘integration compatibility’ fly across the stage. 

The further removed the language becomes from reality the more absurd the piece becomes too. The performers start to stutter, blow bubbles and move in slow motion. The air pressure in the underwater chamber is gradually raised. In the end, Marthaler shifts the focus from the words to movements and music: arias for multiple voices, popular hits and folk songs add depth and melancholy to the comedy. Tiefer Schweb marks Christoph Marthaler’s return to the Holland Festival after many years.