Barbara Wachendorff
Marktplatz 8
D-68526 Ladenburg

T 0049-173-5350898

barbara.wachendorff@gmx.de
info@barbara-wachendorff.de

Barbara Wachendorff

In 1984 I graduated from the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt am Main with a diploma in acting.
After a number of longterm engagements at several national and municipal theaters I turned toward directing, and since 1996 I have worked solely as a director. The Theater der Stadt Duisburg, the Städtische Bühnen Münster, the Théâtre des Capucins in Luxembourg and the Schlosstheater Moers are some of the houses I have worked for frequently. One of the things I focus on in my work is the exploration of uncommon theatrical sites: bridges, warehouses, factories, office buildings or churches are turned into theater venues. Apart from contemporary drama/premieres I am also interested in dealing with the matters of so-called ``experts of their own worlds``, i.e. amateur actors who present certain elements of their specific biographies on stage, usually in cooperation with professional actors.
Since 1996 I have been directing biographical projects with teenagers, elderly people, illiterates, the homeless, the longtime unemployed, the mentally ill and people who suffer from dementia. Each such project is an exploration of living conditions that often lie beyond the range of our imagination and as such keep fascinating and inspiring me. I place great value on discussing and reflecting the way individuals deal with the social realities they are confronted with. What is most important to me, however, is the way these ``experts`` - the people involved in the projects - handle their specific topics palpably and artistically.