Mosquitos at the Kleines Haus: Great Contemporary Drama Meets Scientific Loss of Control
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When Progress Runs Amok: Mosquitos at the Kleines Haus
A particle accelerator under Geneva, the search for the origin of the universe, and a family whose private conflicts shatter every scientific order: Lucy Kirkwood's acerbic comedy Mosquitos blends science fiction, family drama, and social satire into a highly topical theatrical experience. On October 29, 2026, Anna Stiepani's production will be hosted at the Kleines Haus of the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe – only a few more times.
Between CERN and Family Chaos
At the center is Alice, an English scientist working on humanity's ambitious experiment. As tiny particles collide and the boundaries of the knowable shift, her private life goes out of balance. Her son Luke suffers from the mysterious disappearance of his father, hates Geneva, and is suspended from school after a hacker attack on the parent portal.
Alice's sister Jenny is also under pressure. The expectations of their mother Karen weigh heavily on her, as she abstains from ultrasound and vaccinations out of fear of potential dangers. Kirkwood sharpens these characters through a societal order system that sorts out those who do not fit its categories.
Bitter Comedy with Scientific Resonance
The dramaturgy of Mosquitos moves between familial overwhelm, scientific hubris, and dark humor. CERN becomes more than just a backdrop; it serves as a resonance space for the big questions of the present: What happens when the thirst for knowledge overshadows all caution? How much control can a family withstand? And who decides what is considered reasonable?
Lucy Kirkwood, a British playwright and screenwriter, combines precise dialogue with the dynamic of a bitterly comedic TV series. Comedic situations tip into existential crises, and personal injuries acquire political dimensions. The production exposes the fault lines of a society that reveres performance while leaving behind those who do not meet its expectations.
Anna Stiepani Focuses on Precise Stage Art
Director Anna Stiepani, after positions at the Burgtheater Vienna, Schauspielhaus Zurich, and Staatstheater Nuremberg, works for the first time at the Badisches Staatstheater. Her production is supported by a carefully composed set design, costumes by Thurid Peine, music by Matthias Jakisic, videos by Gloria Gammer, and lighting design by Stefan Woinke.
The ensemble features Lisa Schlegel as Alice, Ute Baggeröhr as Jenny, Nico Herzig as Luke, and Angelika Fornell as Karen, guiding the characters through a web of familial closeness, political rage, and scientific awe. The acting artistry gains its tension from the transition between comedic timing and emotional intensity.
An Evening about Order, Fear, and the Limits of the Possible
With its combination of contemporary drama, comedy, and science theater, Mosquitos opens an unusual perspective on the world of CERN. The proximity to the Institute for Experimental Particle Physics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology provides the material with a special regional resonance space.
The performance is aimed at audiences aged 15 and older and lasts from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM, including a break. The audience can expect an intelligent, sensual, and uncomfortable theatrical experience: a theater atmosphere where light, video, music, and acting intensify the question of whether human life can be calculated like a particle experiment.
Conclusion: A Theatrical Evening Between Insight and Loss of Control
Mosquitos promises no soothing order, but an evening full of dark humor, familial tension, and dramatic surprises. Anyone wishing to experience contemporary acting, socially critical production, and vibrant stage art should seize this rare opportunity at the Kleines Haus of the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe.
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