> Part of Monologfestival 2025

Humanity was created from corn. So says the Popol Vuh, the creation book of the K'iche' Maya. We could let ourselves be seduced by this story. But today, corn has neither heritage nor descendants. Corn, which once gave life, has now been genetically modified and patented by corporations such as BAYER. Is this new grain now supposed to shape humanity?

The Mayan creation myth is in serious trouble today – because they would have to pay licensing fees to Germany for every grain. The KMZ Collective takes this contradiction as its starting point and dedicates its new material theater monologue to corn. It puts this ancient companion of Latin America and beloved cinema partner worldwide in the spotlight. In a multimedia solo show, corn itself takes on the leading role, with the KMZ Collective as its backdrop. Through various devices and equipment – cameras, microphones, sensors – corn tells of its existential crisis.

Concept / Artistic Direction / Performance KMZ Kollektiv - Laia Rica / Daniela del Pomar / Antonio Cerezo Cantu / Yahima Piedra Cordova Live Music / Composition Yahima Piedra Córdova Media Art / Live Visuals Daniela del Pomar Set Design Catalina Fernandez / Santiago Doljanin Dramaturgy Katharina von Wilcke Production dramaturgy / Outside perspective Javier Rojas Artistic collaboration Alejandra Atalah Production KMZ KOLLEKTIV Co-production Monologfestival 2025 / TD Berlin - Theater RAMPE Stuttgart

The KMZ Collective – Laia RiCa, Antonio Cerezo, Yahima Piedra Cordova, and Daniela del Pomar – has been working together since 2021, developing material theater productions. Many of us come from Latin America, and we all live in Berlin. Our work revolves around decolonial and ecological perspectives. Our first production, Kaffee mit Zucker? received the Fritz Wortelmann Prize and the Grünschnabel Prize. www.kmzkollektiv.com

POPKORN