The festival Politik im Freien Theater has been existing for ten years. Funded by the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, it happened in Munich under the motto “Reich” (“rich/empire”). Among other, the invited artists included the unusual production by James Leadbitter (the vacuum cleaner) and Jessica Huber, TENDER PROVOCATIONS OF HOPE AND FEAR, for which the two artists in turn collaborated with handicapped artists and activists.

The festival website says:

Wars in the Arab world, climate change and peak oil, the rise of nationalism and the erosion of human rights  – it is not easy to look to the future without fear. With their project “The art of a culture of hope” J & J – Jessica Huber (CH) and James Leadbitter (UK), aka the vacuum cleaner – ask: What are the causes of fear and what effects does fear have on us? What would a “space for potential” be like? What are your hopes for our future? In Munich J & J present “Tender Provocations of Hope and Fear”, one of three formats from their long term project “The art of a culture of hope”. An evening of sharing, with performances and presentations about experiences of fear and hope. For Munich, J & J have invited disabled artists and activists Katherine Araniello, Noemi Lakmaier, Hana Madness, Kim Noble and the vacuum cleaner to share their personal experiences of inequality and exclusion, and attempts at making of new worlds, aesthetics and ways of sharing. 

The numerous translations for supertitles, summaries, and information were accomplished by Bochert Translations und Sprachspiel.