Five senior citizens moving through the city with a two-meter-long papier-mâché shark – that’s a rather unusual sight even for the usually relaxed people of Grafing. You could definitely recognize one or the other lady, because some have been part of the senior theater group for many years kaleidoscopewhich since its founding in 2009 has performed a new play at least once a year in old people’s homes, but also in the small theater in Haar or the Grafing town hall.
The soul and mastermind of it all is Gabi Sabo. The doctorate in theater studies, director and dramaturge had only worked either with professionals or with children until the idea of staging plays with residents of the retirement home and other elderly people. But with her gentle manner and roles, which she wrote specifically for them, the petite 57-year-old, who runs the PR agency “Kulturbananen” full-time, encouraged senior citizens to present themselves in front of an audience without hesitation.
Josefine Klein as an old farmer’s wife sharpens the knives and is happy about the ham she’s been given.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
She really enjoyed his applause, reveals Josefine Klein when they meet in the rented rehearsal room, a former wood workshop. Born in Grafing in 1935, the energetic lady lived abroad for a long time. Shortly after her return in 2012, she joined the theater group after a friend told her about it. What inspires Klein above all is Gabi Sabo’s perseverance and patience.
Characteristics to which a great deal of inventiveness was added in the Corona times. Not only were regular rehearsals then difficult or even impossible, actors were also absent again and again because they fell ill. How could you have rehearsed something that requires the presence of a full ensemble?
With her calm, encouraging nature and tailor-made roles, Gabi Sabo leads all her actors to top performances.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
So Sabo and her husband Carlton Bunce decided to practice a different form of performing arts under the name Oldywood Filmproductions. The native Welshman, who has lived in Bavaria for more than 30 years, is an author, actor, musician, photographer and director with excellent knowledge of the profession – and the idea for “Krambolage” was quickly born: a strip that initially appeared in comes along in the guise of a documentary fiction, but soon turns out to be a homage to Brecht.
Again and again there are tongue-in-cheek adaptations with current references
At the center of this film within a film is an amateur drama group that suddenly has to become a film crew due to the pandemic. In search of suitable material, she rummages through the works of Bertold Brecht and first begins to wonder why his plays have recently been forgotten, and then what is actually still so interesting and relevant about them today.
Because the theme of “social justice” is increasingly emerging as a central element, one decides, among other things, for a closed scene from the “Caucasian Chalk Circle”. Involved: Judge Azdak, one of the few representatives of this profession “who applies his personal understanding of morality and justice,” as Sabo explains. She and Bunce are responsible for the screenplay, in which the original quotes are integrated into the framework story.
Again and again there are tongue-in-cheek adaptations with current references. In Brecht, for example, one finds the shark, but in a completely different place. Or the scene with the cargo bike, which the director wanted to have with her because she is a member of the Grafinger Autoteiler, which owns it.
Eva Halm (as “Schauwa”) drives Renate Müller (as “Richter Azdak”) through the town on an e-bike, while director Gabi Sabo gives final instructions.
(Photo: Michaela Pelz/OH)
On the e-bike sits as “Schauwa” Eva Halm, who didn’t find the trouser role assigned to her that easy at first. For the 72-year-old, acting is a hobby that demands a lot from everyone. Everyone has to deliver a believable performance – which is only possible because “the roles always contain elements of our own personality”. This is definitely thanks to Gabi Sabo.
Only in a subordinate clause does one learn that their management of “Kaleidoskop” is practically voluntary. Which also applies to the use of partner and cameraman Bunce. The technology required for filming was partially funded by the SZ advent calendar, with a small contribution from the retirement home, but above all with the help of the federal program “Neustart Kultur”. The rough cut is to be presented to the relevant committee by the end of September. This will also include a very special soundtrack produced by the international members of the Organon – Sound of Mind project, also co-authored by Sabo and Bunce. Until then, there are still a few days of shooting ahead of the actresses.
Not all actresses found the group through word of mouth – in the case of Renate Müller it was a newspaper article. “The grandchildren were older, needed me less, and I wanted to do something for myself,” explains the 75-year-old, explaining her motivation for joining in 2015. Although the Hessian native has a lot of experience in dealing with people and speaking freely through her various professions in the educational sector and retail, acting remains a challenge for her – combined with a lot of fun. You can feel it with Irmgard Niederreiter, although she describes herself as a “part-time employee”. She was there last year, says the 86-year-old, who used to work at the Goethe Institute and in the library of the high school. “I’ll be fetched if someone is needed.”
Irmgard Niederreiter is on the lookout – she only has the grim facial expression for the camera.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
Sometimes this need arises for a sad reason. During a break in shooting, everyone talks affectionately about a very important colleague who unfortunately passed away some time ago. “A great actress, very talented, yet funny and smart,” says Bunce. Annemarie Volk absolutely wanted to film her remaining scenes while she was already in the palliative care ward. “In this very last time of her life, she still wanted to give us something! She was a great inspiration for everyone,” adds Sabo with a wistful smile. And while the story is told of how the seriously ill woman really revived during the shoot, you can feel that this community is much more than a ladies’ get-together.
Even in the palliative care ward, Annemarie Volk insisted on filming a few more important scenes for the film by the Grafingen senior theater group Kaleidoskop.
(Photo: Carlton Bunce/OH)
But because joy and sorrow lie close together here, as in real life, there is a cheerful episode at the end of the set visit. Before the last shot of the day in Gabi Sabo and Carlton Bunce’s garden, Nana Helfrich, giggling, talks about the last time she stood in the Urtelbach with rubber boots up to her stomach. “Nei kumma I’m fine, but almost never out!” That was because both the shoes and the board underneath were slippery. “So Carlton pulled and Gabi pushed, and so in the end I was out again,” the 80-year-old adds to her report with obvious pleasure.
Nana Helfrich (as “Bandit”) pulls a shark out of the Urtelbach. On camera: Carlton Bunce.
(Photo: Michaela Pelz/OH)
This time it is much easier to get out of the creek, the old lady shows impressive physical exertion. No wonder: Nana Helfrich has the most experience with acting, having been there for a good twelve years. Although the composition has changed again and again over the course of time, it is always a good group, says the former administrative employee, who is at the forefront with her walker on the way to the center of Grafing. The game has a very special meaning for Helfrich: Not only does she enjoy slipping into new roles, she can also forget the pain she has had since back surgery. “It would certainly be uplifting for many others and good for the soul. It’s a shame that no longer dare to go on stage,” says the 80-year-old.
New players are always welcome – male too
Yes, offspring would be nice, confirms Sabo. “Men are welcome, too. They have completely different ideas and a different physicality, so you can do a lot.” No previous knowledge is necessary, just curiosity, openness and the desire to try out the game. Oh yes, of course you have to have time and want to stick with it. On the other hand, declining physical abilities are not a problem, they are integrated into the game – as with the actor, who could no longer walk and then, sitting in a wheelchair, “embodied a very convincing mountain”. If the memory is dwindling, there are ways to tweak the manuscript unnoticed or to leave the stage at regular intervals. When filming, it’s even easier, because there’s no sound. This is then laid over the images later. Will the shark also get a vote?
If you want to get an insight: In 2021 “Oldywood” produced a short film about aging in Grafing for the city: https://www.grafing.de/kultur-bildung-soziales/senioren.html