Spagat Theater: Alan – Human Machine
When: Thu, Apr 23, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Fri, Apr 24, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sat, Apr 25, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sun, Apr 26, 2026 | 4:30 PM
Mon, Apr 27, 2026 | 10:00 AM
Tue, Apr 28, 2026 | 10:00 AM
Thu, Apr 30, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sat, May 02, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Where: halle50 at DomagkAteliers
Admission: €22 | €16 | €14 | €55 | €6 | €3
Admission: shortly before the start of the performance
Click here for reservations!
An installative theater spectacle for the whole family
“Alan – Human Machine” traces important moments in the eventful life of AI visionary and IT icon Alan Turing. After months of work, the British logician succeeded in decoding encrypted radio messages from the German Enigma cipher machine using a specially developed machine. Through his efforts, he made a significant contribution to the end of the Second World War. Nevertheless, his achievements continued to be kept under wraps even after the end of the war. In 1952, Turing was brought to trial for his homosexuality, which was still a criminal offense throughout Europe at the time. In the meantime, not only has the most important award in computer science been named after him, but he has also received an official posthumous apology on behalf of the British government. Turing’s visions of artificial intelligence and his specially developed “Turing Test” are more relevant today than ever.
The Portmanteau Duo created an installation for the play, a music machine that simultaneously provides the soundtrack, participates in the plot as a dialogue partner, and forms the background for Turing’s life as a stage set. che intellche intellige
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Venue: halle50 at DomagkAteliers
With Thorsten Krohn, Lucca Züchner and the Portmanteau Duo Christian Heiß and Greulix Schrank
Director, Text: Christian Heiß, Thorsten Krohn | Stage, Lighting, Music, Technology: Portmanteau Duo | Costume: Cornelia Petz | Mask: Kiki Plötz | Artistic collaboration: Lucca Züchner | Choreographic advice: Sophie Charlotte Becker | Outer Eye: Dagmar Schmidt | Production management: Stephanie Tschunko | Assistant director: Romy Reichenspurner | Production assistant: Lilly Helmel | Software development: Dr. Leonhard Scheck | Coding Courses: Margot Schubert | Press: Barbara Fleischmann
The Machine
The installation consists of 20 identical Schäfer sorting boxes from the 70s, in which 5 sound and 3 light actuators were installed, which are controlled via MIDI signals. The sound installation collectively symbolizes the Turing machine. From grinding noises to tones to complex rhythmic sequences, the machine can reproduce a variety of sound worlds: bobbin beating on wood, plastic boxes sliding over saw blades, bell ringing, chain scratching, everything rattles and dangles in time with the music. Each of the 20 boxes is framed by 182 RGB LED lights, which can be brought to life in various forms via software specially written by Dr. Leonhard Scheck. With a total of 3,000 watts of light output in the pixel mapping process, a wide variety of light worlds can be created. The combination of music, sound and light installation creates a powerful space in front of which the life of Alan Turing is told. https://portmanteau.net/
Please note that a strobe effect is used in this production.
A production of the Kulturbühne Spagat. The production was supported by the state capital Munich, the Wiedeking Foundation and the Adalbert Zajadacz Foundation. The revival at HochX Theater was supported by the Wolfgang Stemmer Foundation and the Klaus Tschira Foundation.
We thank everyone very much!