Caroline Athanasiadis & Klaus Oppitz – Kinderlieder aus der Hölle - Casanova - Wien - 2026 + 2027

CasaNova Vienna, Wien

“Little Hans,” what kind of toxic mother-son relationship is that, anyway? Little Hans gives up his dreams and hurries home to his mother the moment she starts wailing. And what kind of threat is it, anyway, when the lullaby “Good Evening, Good Night” suggests to the child that God might decide NOT to wake him up again? Depending on how well He slept Himself and whether He’s in a bad mood at the moment, or what?

And then there are these fairy tales! What illness, pray tell, does Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother have that can be cured with wine!? Or are you familiar with the children’s book about the Rainbow Fish, who is only accepted by his fish friends after he sheds his colorful scales and becomes as boringly gray as the rest of the crowd? So, just don’t stand out? He could have aimed for a career as an aquarium fish, but instead he’ll probably end up on a plate. Is this supposed to prepare us for the fact that one day we’ll have the most boring job in the world? Or are we like the miller, who’s probably on the verge of burnout when he’d rather go hiking than be productive and grind grain?

Are we, as a society, completely off track simply because we grew up with all these stories? Caroline Athanasiadis and Klaus Oppitz strike back and deliver a cabaret-style horror show fit for the xylophone. And they tackle the truly important questions about the future: What would a children’s song have to sound like to guarantee it causes no psychological harm? What about an honest fairy tale that, amid economic crises, heart attacks, and divorces, prepares today’s little ones for the big life of tomorrow?

By the way, have you heard of the children’s book about Paul the cleanerfish?