Creating new community in a vibrant local cultural ecosystem

Achim Müller is helping to develop the „Made in Remscheid“ project at the Teo Otto Theater in Remscheid. Funded by the „Spielzeit“ program, he is working with Sven Graf, the artistic director of the Teo Otto Theater, and public relations expert Melanie Adriaan to further establish the guest theater as a focal point of Remscheid’s urban life.

The core of the project is a program comprised of productions created by local artists and cultural institutions – such as recently the twice sold-out orchestral performance of the cult musical Jesus Christ Superstar, conducted by church music director Christoph Spengler, together with the Bergische Symphoniker, international musical soloists, a specially assembled band, and a choir of over 300 amateurs.

The diverse productions are managed underneath an overarching strategy: to increase the reach, visibility, and awareness of local artistic creation through continuous public relations work; to foster a sense of community and creative enthusiasm within an ecosystem of committed program partners through networking workshops and collaborations; and to create an intensified visitor experience for all Made in Remscheid productions through specific additional event formats, characterized by proximity, audience activation, and participation.

The most recent successful example was a church service at the Teo Otto Theater, which took place on the Sunday after the two performances of Jesus Christ Superstar, featuring two pastors, a band, video and audio recordings of scenes from the musical, and voices from Remscheid residents. Inspired by themes from the musical, the theater hall was transformed for a special kind of devotional.