machina eX: Lessons of Leaking

In Lessons of Leaking, machina eX explores the moral conflicts in the tense territory between democracy, transparency, manipulation, and freedom of expression.Germany, 2021. After the countless crises of the 2010s, visions of a united Europe have finally succumbed to the reality of a full-scale security apparatus. Society is divided: critics across the political spectrum are demanding Germany exit the EU, whereas EU advocates want to hold on to the old ideal of a mutually supportive community.To calm the angry mood around the country, the government stages a one-time referendum on whether the Germany should leave the EU. A few days before the vote, under mysterious circumstances, a young PR officer gets ahold of some top-secret documents. If published, they would have devastating consequences for all of Europe.In collaboration with the playwright Dmitrij Gawrisch, machina eX has created a theatrical game that illustrates the irreconcilable conflict between political ideals and personal interests. Together in a group of 10, the audience plays through the political thriller and ultimately determines the course of the story: To leak or not to leak?