The Conquest of the South Pole

Synopsis

An attic in a German industrial town, transformed by the power of imagination.

Slupianek, an unemployed and charismatic young man, proposes an audacious plan to his despondent friends—Buscher, Braukmann, Seiffert, and Frankieboy. Trapped in the despair of unemployment and poverty, they find solace and a sense of purpose by re-enacting Roald Amundsen’s historic expedition to the South Pole. Using everyday objects and their vivid imaginations, they transform their bleak surroundings into the icy expanses of the Antarctic. This journey offers them a temporary escape from their harsh realities, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity.

The Conquest of the South Pole is a powerful blend of naturalism and theatrical fantasy, exploring themes of unemployment, hope, and the power of imagination. The play is infused with poetic language and dynamic dialogue, transitioning fluidly between near-realism and surreal escapism. Karge’s narrative showcases how the act of play becomes a form of survival for those marginalised by society, revealing both the absurdity and profundity of their plight.