In theater, people step into the light so the audience can watch and identify with them. But what about those who shy away from the spotlight? What about the concerns that need the protection of anonymity, like democracy needs the ballot box? How can the intimacy of conversations after lights out be transferred to the theater? Listening is better with closed eyes. Whether in confession, in the darkroom, in stock trading, in chat forums, on the phone, or during a power outage: Without light and face, space is created for a side of society that shuns glamour.

In „Société Anonyme,“ darkness provides protection from shame, fear, and judgment for stories and storytellers. From the dark web to telephone counseling, behind the veil of a hijab or the tinted window of a limousine, with whistleblowers and the hacker group Anonymous… In the darkroom, the image of a different city develops.

Stefan Kaegi stages invisible performers and technically sophisticated, space-filling audio technology to take the audience into the underexposed areas of coexistence. It’s commonly said: „What you see is what you get.“ But since Mack the Knife, it’s also clear what’s being missed: „The ones in the dark you don’t see.“