Samir Akika’s production “Me&myMum“ begins in the true fashion of independent films, to the tune of David Bowie’s “Heroes“. Subsequently, a chaotically genial cutting against the grain of mother images ensues. “Me&myMum“ is the second installment in a trilogy about growing up. Following his internationally successful production “Extended Teenage Era“, Akika now deals with the complex relationship between mother and child in a humorous, passionate way with a knack for the peculiarities of life; and he dedicates the play to his mentor and the “mother“ of German dance theatre, Pina Bausch. He plays with clichés and stereotypes, lending earthiness to grand emotions. The performers face this, arguably the most formative relationship in their lifes, critically and in a provocative manner, letting the audience have a glimpse into their very personal histories with absurd episodes that sometimes border on the grotesque.

Samir Akika is a choreographer, director, curator, and producer. Born in Algier, he grew up in a suburb of Paris and went on to study physics, mathematics and sports in Paris and Miami. Coming to dance fairly late, he studied at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen. Since then, he has been working as a freelance dancer and choreographer, closely associated with the Theater im Pumpenhaus in Münster. Apart from his well-acclaimed stage productions for adults, he has been realizing projects with young people globally, some of them in conjunction with the Goethe-Institut. In 2009 he was chosen for the Spitzenförderung in NRW and has founded Unusual Symptoms with his long-term production partner Alexandra Morales the same year.