Humans at Play 🎭— Berlin and New York

The Humans at Play format is my flagship offering, and ties all other experiences together. It is an ethnographic research project (and co-hort based program) where participants become researchers of their own play wisdom, are challenged to play and improvise in public & learn how to create interactive stories that tie society together instead of breaking it apart.

Humans at Play Laboratory #1 - Berlin

The first Humans at Play Laboratory in Berlin spanned for 6 weeks and was a co-exploration into human expression between the playful and the profound. We explored tools from improv theatre, clowning, LARPing, theatre of the oppressed and other. The experience culminated in an interactive pop-up experience: Club42 (in collaboration with Space42) was a free-form renegade theatre and music improvisation on the Tempelhofer Field, hosted by a cast of actors and open to everyone who dared enter the club.

Humans at Play Laboratory #2 - New York

The evolution of the Humans at Play format took place in New York, designed as an intensive exploration of the intersection of theatrical play and anthropology. Each session was designed as an interactive story around a participant’s select theme (love, climate change, power), exploring how transformational theatric play can be for those topics.

During the intensive we learned tools from improv theatre, clowning, theatre of the opressed and other. We also created our own personal games and stories, used costumes and artefacts to enhance immersion, made puppets that we used to play in public spaces (bar) and clowned New York City on the 2024 US election night

Testimonials

I used to think that performance is about pretend, now I just think it’s about being seen and share - Corey

The Invitation to play, again and again, is something inherent in the way we are. No demand, no ask. You make the first move, show yourself in vulnerability and invite people in. It is sweet honest and raw. - Humans at play NYC participant