„Wimmelstadt“: Director Sandra Strunz nominated for the 2026 German Theatre Prize DER FAUST

Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar: Zum deutschen Artikel.

At the start of this season, the stage in the Great Hall at the TDJW was teeming with activity. With her production of ‘Wimmelstadt,’ Sandra Strunz not only brought the entire acting ensemble together on stage to kick off the season, but also, along with them, a host of costumes and characters – all with little to no dialogue. Sandra Strunz has now been nominated for “Wimmelstadt” in the category of Theatre Direction for Young Audiences at the German Theatre Prize DER FAUST 2026.

“Inspired by Peter Handke’s *Die Stunde, da wir nichts voneinander wussten* (*The Hour When We Knew Nothing of One Another*), Sandra Strunz’s Leipzig production *Wimmelstadt* is a work that functions almost entirely without dialogue, whilst depicting the everyday encounters of a wide variety of people. It is rich in creativity, with and theatrical magic,” the jury stated in its citation.

“For this production, Sandra Strunz has looked closely, listened carefully and really got a feel for the material. Her production is a call to live consciously. A great deal happens on stage: from the first pigeons of the day to a choreographed football ballet or street musicians singing exactly the right song at exactly the right moment. The beauty of this production lies in the fact that it is impossible to take in everything in detail.

It is inexhaustible – every glance reveals something new. In her production ‘Wimmelstadt,’ Sandra Strunz lets her love of theatre and of people swarm through poetic, meticulously observed images of everyday life. In this work, the director demonstrates that she has a keen sense of space, rhythm and tension on stage. This makes every one of the production’s seventy minutes well worth experiencing.”

“I congratulate Sandra Strunz, her team and the entire cast, who have conjured up a colourful and vibrant cityscape on stage in this first collaboration. Our curious audience loves the numerous quirky characters and situations waiting to be discovered! I’m delighted by the appreciation for this visually striking and witty production and am keeping my fingers crossed,” explains Miriam Tscholl, Artistic Director at the Theater der Jungen Welt.

‘Wimmelstadt’ premiered on 19 September 2025 on the stage of the TdJW.

And the great thing is: the play, recommended for ages 6 and over, is also on the programme for the new season.

The next performances will take place on Friday 16 October at 5 pm, Saturday 17 October at 4 pm and Sunday 18 October at 4 pm.