Events

A group of young people wanders through the Johannesburg night. Born in the early 2000s, ten years after the end of apartheid, they grew up in a world of economic crises, reignited wars, and propaganda-fueled tensions. They live in a multicultural world, but not a just one. They are curious, sad, angry, ironic, and vulnerable—yet they do not hide their vulnerability; they turn it into their weapon. These kids aren't just kids – they're manic poets.

“Kids” is both theater and a live-action film. The project is a follow-up to the cult classic Dämonen, which Nikitin produced in 2022 together with Sebastian Nübling at Theater Basel. Once again, a camera transmits the action live onto a large screen in the theater. Nikitin’s new work, a collaboration with Johannesburg-based journalist Tšeliso Monaheng, takes it a step further: the audience and performers are no longer all in the same city, but they are all on the same planet. The world premiere takes place simultaneously in Basel, Johannesburg, and at the FIT Festival in Lugano.

Right in front of the audience’s eyes, a captivating portrait of a young generation takes shape: a vibrant urban odyssey in the spirit of post-documentary theater, the Nouvelle Vague, and new South African cinema.

Aftertalk after the performance on 3 October 2026