Between prep talk, power gels, and performance pressure: In this physical theatre piece, Unbaked Collective examines the growing trend of extreme endurance sports as a reflection of our optimization-driven society. As they climb a winners’ podium, the performers turn their attention to sweat, breath, and heartbeat. They ask themselves what their bodies are capable of and why they demand such performance from themselves. In their pursuit of recognition, pride, and fulfillment, the dancers push themselves to exhaustion, accompanied by relentless drums and the glaring projection of hyper-muscular avatars looming above them.

LAKTAT explores a seemingly harmless trend and its long historical roots: Where does athletic activity end, and where does the unconscious reproduction of ideological images of the strong and superior body begin? How much of the drive for self-optimization through training is really a search for meaning? Is the exhausted body a political body? LAKTAT is a performative long run through fitness-influencer feeds, neoliberal body ideals, and the fear of standing still.

A co-production by Unbaked Collective and studiobühneköln.