Follow the dopamine
researching on ADHD and neurodiversity
2023/2024



Kunstflecken Festival Neumünster 2023
„Follow the dopamine“ shifts between calm order and cacophonic chaos. Sounds, movements, lights and words are fighting for attention. The artists play with distorted time perception, sensory (over)stimulation and impulse regulation. Jasiek Mischke lives with ADHD and the collective expands beyond its own lived experience by interviewing numerous neurodivergent people that volunteered to contribute to the research.
“Follow the dopamine” is a two-part performance series researching on ADHD and neurodiversity. The first part takes place at Kunstflecken Festival Neumünster. The performance collective Merle | Mischke | Klee will transform an empty shop in the inner city into a temporary art space that allows passerby to witness their creative process. The trio will rehearse and present their research on site and in collaboration with set and costume designer Elena Bulochnikova as well as composer Christopher Ramm.
Theatre tour 2024
After its initial research phase at Kunstflecken Festival Neumünster "Follow the dopamine" will become a full-evening stage work. It will tour in Schleswig-Holstein's big cities and small villages as well as in Hamburg.
Workshops
& Lectures
Merle | Mischke | Klee offers dance workshops and educational lectures for young people (14+) and adults. No movement experience is needed in order to take part. These participatory activities are paired with a visit of "Follow the dopamine" and an after talk with the involved artists. The combination of experiencing or learning about dance, watching the performance and reflecting on it collectively afterwards shall allow a deeper understanding of the topic ADHD and the creative process of the collective. Moreover, it can foster a lasting interest in contemporary dance as an art form.
2023
23.09. Open Studio Kunstflecken Neumünster
30.09. Performance Kunstflecken Neumünster
2024
04.01. Free Yoga Class M.1 Hohenlockstedt
06.01. Free Yoga Class M.1 Hohenlockstedt
07.01. Free Yoga Class M.1 Hohenlockstedt
09.01. Free Yoga Class M.1 Hohenlockstedt
09.01. Open Studio M.1 Hohenlockstedt
02.05. Theaterwerkstatt Pilkentafel Flensburg
03.05. Theaterwerkstatt Pilkentafel Flensburg
04.05. Theaterwerkstatt Pilkentafel Flensburg
06.05. Theater in der Stadthalle Neumünster
24.05. Theater im Werftpark Kiel
25.05. Theater im Werftpark Kiel
28.05. Theater Itzehoe
29.05. Theater Itzehoe
31.05. Lichthof Theater Hamburg+school performance
01.06. Lichthof Theater Hamburg
02.06. Lichthof Theater Hamburg
Sep. SE Kultur / VJKA Bad Segeberg
Sep. SE Kultur / VJKA Bad Segeberg
Oct. Theaterwerkstatt Pilkentafel Flensburg
Performance
Coralie Merle, Jasiek Mischke, Mark Christoph Klee
Dramaturgy
Set & Costume
Composition
Production & public relations
The project series "Follow the dopamine" was preceded by a research phase on ADHD and neurodiversity, supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media within the program NEUSTART KULTUR. Many thanks go to all the interviewees who shared their own experiences in personal conversations or took part in online surveys.
"Follow the dopamine (Kunstflecken)“ is a project by Merle | Mischke | Klee commissioned by Kunstflecken Neumünster. It is funded by the Ministry for General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture Schleswig-Holstein and by the city of Neumünster. Rehearsal residencies are made possible by Théâtre Sévelin 36 Lausanne.
"Follow the dopamine" is a project by Merle | Mischke | Klee and is co-produced by Theaterwerkstatt Pilkentafel Flensburg. It is funded by the Ministry for General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg Ministry for Culture and Media. The „Netzwerk Freier Theater“ supports the project within the framework of the programme „Verbindungen fördern“ of the Federal Association for the Independent Performing Arts with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media. The guest performances are made possible by „Hamburgische Kulturstiftung“, the city of Flensburg and the city of Neumünster. Rehearsals are made possible by BAU Amsterdam and the programme "Zu Gast im M.1." of the Arthur Boskamp-foundation Hohenlockstedt.