Hedge Knights (2013)

Hedge Knights depicts the financial market system and the quest for profit. Deals get made, investment strategies tested, and customers cheated.

August Mohr has made it: on the 47th floor of the biggest bank in the world, he’s started his hedge fund and his quest for the big money. While August’s wife Clara tries to save her pharmaceutical company, the young investment banker Denise senses Clara’s firm is in trouble. As all three gamble away their collateral in a whirlwind of risk and gain, the financial authorities suddenly come knocking, and the global economy moves closer to a crisis. In the meantime, who is profiting? And at what price?

Stock market speculation produces illusory monetary values detached from the real world. Brokers in the executive suites of multinational corporations build up their pensions as though they’re playing a computer game. But what seem like harmless movements of data on a stock ticker can create catastrophic effects on the other side of the globe—or two streets away.

A mobile theater game for 10- 12 players. Duration: approximately 80 minutes.

Premiere / Venues

Premiere in March 2013 at the HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Berlin

October 2013 at the New Industries Festival Dortmund

November 2013 at Gessnerallee Zürich

April 2014 at the Instynkt Gry-Festival Krakow

Two people in office clothes shake hands.
A person in a jacket and blouse is sitting at a desk with their hands up. A stock index can be seen in the background.
A person sits in a nervous posture on an office chair talking to a person who is not in the picture.
A person in a suit sits at a desk and talks to another person who can only be seen from behind.
Two people shake hands. One is wearing a business suit, the other a rider's outfit. In the background a third person looks surprised.
A person in a rider's outfit hugs a person in a suit intimately. In the background is office furniture.
Three people are holding champagne glasses. One of them looks directly into the camera.
In an office, a person in an orange T-shirt is carrying a person in distinguished clothing in their arms.
A person in a business suit is looking for something in their handbag. Next to her, a person in a suit stands in the doorway and looks at the person sitting down.
In front of a window showing a view of skyscrapers, a person in a vest stands with their back to the camera.
A person in a suit stands in front of a window showing a view of skyscrapers and talks to someone outside the frame.

Credit: Paula Reissig


In the maelstrom of the game, moral issues are pushed aside in favor of gambling, just as stock market speculators focus on the thrill of the numbers and don’t seem concerned about destroying values, foodstuffs or livelihoods – even if they get away with it. (…) It will be exciting to see how the group continues to operate within its genre. The balancing act between play with no consequences and increasing (political) awareness among audience members has just been initiated.

Matthias Weigel, nachtkritik.de

Script and Performance: Anan Fries, Laura Naumann, Yves Regenass /// Artistic Direction and Production Management: Laura Schäffer /// Technical Direction and Lead Game Design: Jan Philip Steimel /// Interactive Design: Robin Krause, Lasse Marburg /// Video and Production: Nele Lenz /// Sound Design: Mathias Prinz /// Sets: Franziska Riedmiller, För Künkel /// Costumes: Elisa Pelkmann

Production: machina eX. Coproduction: HAU Hebbel am Ufer. Supported by the Capital City Culture Fund (Berlin)