International Summer Festival underway in Kampnagel

"This festival previews the future of stage arts, which are highly political, permeable to the present and extremely entertaining," said András Siebold, festival director. Pop-culture and social themes will be highlighted on stage. The French choreographic trio (La) Horde and the Ballet national de Marseille will open the festival with a world premiere of "Age of Content" focusing on the internet and pop culture. Austrian director Florentina Holzinger presents "Ophelia's got Talent," a feminist theatre spectacle from August 17. The Viennese theater group Nesterval will performing "Die Namenlosen - verfolgt in Hamburg" (The Nameless - Haunted in Hamburg) in the Kakaospeicher Hall in HafenCity from August 10 marking its premiere in Germany.

This year's festival features no less than 37 concerts as well as dance, theater and performances. Mulatu Astatke, the godfather of Ethio-Jazz, the techno veteran Jeff Mills from Detroit and the vocal ensemble, Graindelavoix, will make guest appearances at the Elbphilharmonie. Meanwhile, Marcos Valle and the Sun Ra Arkestra will perform in Kampnagel. Digital artist Jacolby Satterwhite will exhibit three works in the Deichtorhallen and in Kampnagel while Lebanese-U.S. artist Walid Raad's performance will guide audiences through the Hamburger Kunsthalle's collection.

During the run-up to the UEFA European Championship in 2024, cultural events will be launched as part of the International Summer Festival. The New York Times has praised "One Song" by the Belgian performance artist Miet Warlop and NTG,  which well be held from August 10, 2024, as "one of the best performances in 2022". Twelve performers enter an arena for a ritual about farewell, life and death, hope and resurrection for a celebration akin to a live competition featuring a commentator and a cheerleader. Soccer is also at the centre of "Josse Jnr.", which addresses topics such as soccer migration and power structures when it celebrates its world premiere on August 10. Former Australian-Sri Lankan professional soccer player and theater producer, Ahilan Ratnamohan developed the play with Belgium's acting star Josse de Pauwund and the regional league player Etuwe Bright Junior.

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