D.a.S. Theater
Independent Cologne theatre now staging a single show: 'You Are My Mother' about dementia — one performer plays both mother and son.
since 1990
D.a.S. Theater is an independent theatre company from Cologne that today focuses entirely on a single, award-winning piece about dementia and growing old.
At a Glance
- Type
- Independent theatre
- Base
- Cologne, district of Porz
- Founded
- 1990 by Klaus-Volker Roth and Gisela Nohl
- Track record to 2023
- approx. 2,100 performances for around 400,000 audience members
- Current production
- You Are My Mother by Joop Admiraal (since 1993)
- Memberships
- ASSITEJ, Kölner Theaterkonferenz, JuPiTer
The play "Du bist meine Mutter" (You Are My Mother), in which a single actor plays both the role of the mother with dementia and her son, has been in the repertoire continuously since 1993 – and has been performed before a total of around 400,000 spectators over more than 30 years.
Things to do here
- Experience the play "You Are My Mother" about dementia
- Watch a single performer embody both mother and son at once
- Discover independent theatre away from the big stages
- Immerse yourself in a moving story about growing older
- Enjoy a production staged entirely without elaborate scenery
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
You Are My Mother
Joop Admiraal's play follows a son visiting his mother in a care home as her memory gradually fades, shifting the dynamic between them. What makes the piece distinctive is that a single performer plays both roles — switching between mother and son — with minimal set design. Gisela Nohl performed the piece for 29 years until the end of 2022; since 2023, Achim Conrad has taken on the role.
Awards and Guest Performances
The production won the main prize at THEATERZWANG, the festival for independent theatres in North Rhine-Westphalia, in 1993. The company has also toured internationally with the Goethe-Institut, performing in Kazakhstan, Belgium, and Turkey. Earlier productions Crash (2001) and Wilder Panther Keks (2005) were selected for the NRW Children's and Youth Theatre Festival.
Earlier Works
The theatre's back catalogue tackled a range of social themes: Wilder Panther Keks by Günter Jankowiak addressed addiction prevention, while China by Erik Uddenberg depicted the story of a Ugandan child soldier. Other productions included Freunde by Klaus-Volker Roth, Creeps by Lutz Hübner, and Alma-Ata Unna.
Funding and Location
The company is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the City of Cologne, and sponsors, though performance fees make up the bulk of its income. While Wikipedia lists the theatre as based in Cologne's Porz district, its official registered address is in Rheinbreitbach.
Timeline
- 1990D.a.S. Theater founded by Klaus-Volker Roth and Gisela Nohl
- 1993"Du bist meine Mutter" wins main prize at THEATERZWANG festival
- 1993"Du bist meine Mutter" added to the repertoire
- 1994Award for "Alma-Ata Unna" at the Federal Competition of German Cities
- 2001"Crash" invited to the NRW Children's and Youth Theatre Meeting
- 2005"Wilder Panther Keks" invited to the NRW Children's and Youth Theatre Meeting
- 2022Actress Gisela Nohl leaves the production after 29 years
- 2023Achim Conrad takes over the lead role; approx. 2,100 performances before 400,000 spectators
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
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Sources & links
- Official website
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-06-23)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-06-23, rev 266668536)
- Official website (retrieved 2026-06-24)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-26
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