Irrsinn – Die Show

In search of the ultimate proof that reality is just an illusion, Diederik Peeters delves deep into the archives of psychiatry and neurology. In his new performance, he explores the connections between historical figures, personal narratives, and mental disorders, pushing the boundaries of reason and normality.

Firmly convinced that a new conception of mental health and madness can change our understanding of reality, Peeters slips into the role of a psychiatrist. But as our host loses himself in the labyrinth of his own narratives and diagnoses, our perception of reality begins to blur. Even the nature of the show itself seems fluid and indefinable. What begins as a lecture on neuropsychiatry transforms into a concert or morphs into a visual delirium. Oscillating between science, entertainment and art, the performance searches for a fixed form.

“Irrsinn—Die Show” invites us to rethink our relationship to the human psyche. Where does reality end and imagination begin? At what point is our perception considered pathological? What criteria determine what we consider normal in our experience of reality, how have these criteria developed throughout history, and can we reinvent them to imagine a neurodivergent future and open a view of a radically integrative society, free from stigma and taboos?

Diederik Peeters obtained a master’s degree in visual arts in Ghent, Belgium. He has performed in various international theatre, dance and film productions and served as an artistic consultant for productions of like-minded artists. His own works oscillate between performance and installation and are presented both in theatres and exhibition contexts. In 2019, he produced the piece “Erscheinungen” at Residenz. His current exploration of divergent perceptions of reality has been tested in a variety of artistic formats over a period of two years at several locations in Europe. In March 2024, he presented “Wahnsinn – Ein (live) Podcast” in Leipzig, a first preliminary stage of the project that is now being finalised with “Irrsinn – Die Show”.