Joyful Failure – An Evening on the Poetry of Failure

Performance by laborgras feat. Liam Byrne & Ensemble

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  Joyful Failure – Ein Abend über die Poesie des Scheiterns 1 – Schwarz-weiße Aufnahme von zwei Performer*innen, eine in einem Sakko verschlungen.

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  Joyful Failure – Ein Abend über die Poesie des Scheiterns 2 – Schwarz-weiß Aufnahme einer Person hinter einem Stuhl mit nachdenklichem Ausdruck.

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  Joyful Failure – Ein Abend über die Poesie des Scheiterns 3 – Schwarz weiß Foto einer Person in schwarzen Klamotten, die von hinten von Armen umschlungen wird und eine Grimasse zieht.

Failure is perceived as a flaw in our performance-driven society. But what if there is a unique poetry in failure, which is much more than a mere lack of success? “Joyful Failure” is a new work by laborgras, inspired by Samuel Beckett’s words: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” It embraces failure as movement itself – as an ongoing process, which opens possibilities.

In their new performance “Joyful Failure”, laborgras focuses on the precise, fragile moment of failure. Six dancers create an open choreographic-musical structure with musician Liam Byrne in Radialsystem, in which insecurity, hesitation, and instability are not overcome, but made visible. Bodies encounter and miss each other, lose their balance, and discover new forms of closeness. Sound and movement merge into one in the process: Byrne’s composition features the historic Viola da Gamba, which interacts directly with the dance.

In an era defined by crises, acceleration, and increased efficiency, this work questions forms of togetherness. What emerges if we let go of the logic of control and self-optimisation? Instead of conceptualising failure as a deficit, its productive force is placed at the centre: as an everyday experience, which is both bonding and deeply human. In this way, a space between stumbling and recovery unfolds, between loss and starting over. A space in which failure is not suppressed, but remains visible – soft, stubborn, living.

Artists/Collaborators: laborgras (Renate Graziadei & Arthur Stäldi) (Konzept und Künstlerische Leitung), Arthur Stäldi (Dramaturgie), Liam Byrne (Musik), Claudia Janitschek (Kostümdesign), Kevin Sock (Lichtdesign), Marcelo Vilela da Silva (Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit), Micaela Trigo (Distribution), Mia Sedding (Gestaltung), Phil Dera (Foto), Adriana Metzlaff (Hair & Make-Up Fotos), Urszula Heuwinkel (Künstlerische Produktionsleitung), laborgras in Kollaboration mit, Abraham Iglesias Rodriguez, Tian Gao, Miguel González Padilla, Rosalind Masson , Djamila Polo (Choreografie)

A production by laborgras in collaboration with Radialsystem. laborgras is supported by the State of Berlin, Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. Media Partners: Radio 3.

Media partners Radialsystem: The Berliner, tip Berlin, taz – die Tageszeitung.

Next date:

• Date Thursday, 06/August/2026 19:00 ( 3 more dates )
• Venue Radialsystem V
• Address Holzmarktstraße 33, 10243 Berlin-Friedrichshain