By the touch of a lucky coin
By the touch of a lucky coin
"A Storytelling Show With Live Music About Wishing And Longing"
By Kathleen Rappolt & Erik Sjøholm
about the show
"I guess we need a touch of luck to make our dreams come true"
Synopsis
By The Touch Of A Lucky Coin is a 60-minute bilingual (English-German) storytelling performance blending live music, dance, myth, and personal narrative. It expands on a short tale created for the Story OASE Festival Berlin 2024, where a magpie finds a golden coin that passes through the hands of various characters with unspoken wishes.
By The Touch Of A Lucky Coin is a 60-minute bilingual (English-German) storytelling performance blending live music, dance, myth, and personal narrative. It expands on a short tale created for the Story OASE Festival Berlin 2024, where a magpie finds a golden coin that passes through the hands of various characters with unspoken wishes.
Autobiographical stories, including East German childhood memories and the emotional journey of living with endometriosis, bring a deeply personal layer to the performance. Integrating original music and choreography, the show creates an immersive and emotional experience, inviting the audience to reflect on the nature of dreams and longing.
The tale draws from Andersen’s The Little Mermaid and myths from the Finnish mythology Kalevala, exploring themes of transformation, motherhood, and the power of desires.
Themes
#Dreams #Wishes #Pregnancy #Endometriosis #Andersen #Folktales #Luck #EastGermany #Kalevala #Mythology
Language
#English #German #Bilingual
The show is available in three versions:
English, German and Bilingual
Multidisciplinary Art forms
This is a multidisciplinary storytelling performance that weaves together live music, movement, myth, and personal narrative.
Why This Show Matters
“By The Touch of a Lucky Coin” is an important cultural and social offering because it tackles themes that are deeply relevant to women’s health and the broader societal conversations surrounding fertility, motherhood, and the emotional weight of unfulfilled desires. At its core, the show speaks to the longing many women feel to become mothers, exploring the pain of those who struggle with fertility or chronic illnesses like endometriosis.
By telling these stories in the framework of myth and folklore, the performance creates an emotionally accessible way to address complex and often taboo topics. The show raises awareness about the realities of these issues while providing a space for empathy, healing, and shared understanding.
In addition, "By The Touch of a Lucky Coin" expands the conversation around motherhood, showing it in a more inclusive light—one that acknowledges the emotional journey of those for whom the experience of motherhood is complicated by physical or external circumstances. The show sheds light on the profound emotional journey of desire, fulfilment, and the unpredictability of life, making it resonate with audiences far beyond those personally affected by these issues.
by the touch of a lucky coin
"A Moving Storytelling Show With Live Music"
Overview
"By The Touch Of A Lucky Coin" is a captivating one-hour performance that intertwines folklore, myth, and reality to explore the profound and universal longing for motherhood. Through a blend of narrative storytelling, music, and symbolic imagery, the show delves into the complexities surrounding the desire to have a child—a journey that is as much about hope and dreams as it is about the unpredictable twists of fate.
Narrative Arc
The story follows a woman who, on a day filled with deep yearning, wishes for a child. Parallel to her tale, we encounter a magpie striving to reach the skies, a young Black captain on a ship wishing for a safe journey and the sea king’s youngest daughter who dreams of love. These interwoven stories reveal how the desire for something deeply yearned for — whether it be a child, love or freedom — often collides with forces beyond one’s control.
N. A. Continued
A golden coin, a symbol of luck and fortune, passes through the hands of various characters, each time altering their destinies. The woman eventually comes into possession of the coin, which magically grants her wish, but not without unforeseen consequences. As her belly swells, she embarks on a journey to seek the wisdom of an old woman in the forest. The birth that follows is both extraordinary and mystical, giving life to a child who embodies the merging of human and mythic worlds.
Themes
Desire and Longing:
The show poignantly captures the intense desire for motherhood, a longing that transcends time, culture, and species.The Element of Luck:
The golden coin serves as a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of fate in the fulfilment of dreams.Myth and Reality:
The narrative blurs the lines between the real and the fantastical, using mythic characters to echo the real-world struggles and hopes of women.Transformation:
The story emphasises transformation, both physical and emotional, as characters evolve through their interactions with the coin and the fulfilment of their desires.
Artistic Vision
"By The Touch Of A Lucky Coin" is a celebration of the age-old stories that have shaped our understanding of desire and fate. Through a blend of music, movement, and rich storytelling, the performance invites the audience into a world where dreams are as fragile as they are powerful, and where every wish carries with it the weight of the unknown.
Target Audience
This performance resonates deeply with those who have experienced or are experiencing the emotional complexities of wanting a child. However, it also appeals to broader audiences who appreciate folklore, myth, and the exploration of universal human desires. Ideal for storytelling festivals, health professionals and women’s circles, “By The Touch Of A Lucky Coin” offers a profound reflection and “edutainment” on the intersections of hope, fate, and the human experience.
What To Expect
Audiences entering “By The Touch of a Lucky Coin” are invited into a world where myth and personal narrative converge to explore the depths of human longing. From the moment the story begins, viewers are immersed in a bilingual storytelling experience that weaves English and German together seamlessly, creating a rhythm that flows between fantasy and reality. The performance balances live music, dance, and evocative storytelling, drawing on Nordic myths and Andersen’s The Little Mermaid to explore universal themes of transformation, motherhood, and the pursuit of desires.
As the magpie’s lucky coin passes through the hands of various characters, the audience will journey through different lives and emotions, experiencing hope, frustration, love, and loss. The autobiographical stories, particularly those touching on childhood and the challenges of living with endometriosis, give the performance an emotional depth that resonates personally with many women, while also inviting broader reflection on the complexities of health, fertility, and unfulfilled desires.
Original live music, including moments where the story is carried by song, deepens the emotional tone, creating an immersive experience that engages both heart and mind.The audience will leave feeling reflective, moved, and perhaps more aware of the invisible forces—luck, fate, desire—that shape our lives.
Unique Selling Points
Emotional Depth:
The show masterfully handles sensitive topics such as motherhood, infertility, and illness, allowing audiences to engage with these themes in a deeply personal and compassionate way. The combination of myth and personal narrative offers a safe yet profound space to explore these emotionally charged experiences.
Mythical and Personal:
By blending mythical elements from The Little Mermaid and myths from the Finnish Kalevala with autobiographical stories, the performance touches on timeless human experiences while also making them relevant to modern issues like women’s health and endometriosis. Topics that are unknown and often taboo in society.
Bilingual Presentation:
The unique use of both English and German on stage allows the show to reach diverse audiences, creating a powerful bridge between cultures. This bilingual format adds an extra layer of richness to the storytelling, with both languages complementing each other.
Multidisciplinary Artistry:
With live music, storytelling, and dance, By The Touch of a Lucky Coin is a truly multidisciplinary performance. Each element—whether it’s the evocative movement, the haunting live music, or the power of spoken word—contributes to a rich, textured experience.
Target Audience
Storytelling Festivals and Theatres:
As a rich blend of myth, personal narrative, music, and movement, the show is well-suited for storytelling festivals and small theatres, where intimate performances create meaningful connections with the audience.
Libraries and Cultural Institutions:
Given its engagement with myth, folklore, and personal narrative, the performance can be an enriching cultural experience for audiences in literary and cultural settings.
Health Professionals and University Students in Health Fields:
The performance provides a creative and human perspective on issues like endometriosis, fertility, and women’s health. It can serve as an educational and emotional resource for those working with or studying these issues.
Associations for Endometriosis and Women’s Health:
As the performance touches on the experiences of living with endometriosis, it is a valuable cultural offering for organisations working in the field of women’s health and advocacy.
Women’s Circles and Fertility Support Groups:
The exploration of fertility, desire, and endometriosis offers a resonant experience for women seeking emotional connection and shared stories around these topics.
Wellness Centers and Rehabilitation Clinics:
The emotional depth and healing potential of the show make it a perfect fit for wellness centres, especially those focused on mental and emotional well-being.
meet the team
"A Dance Between Story and Sound"
Kathleen Rappolt (DE)
Kathleen Rappolt studied Artistic Storytelling and Theatre Pedagogy (M.A.) at Berlin University of Arts. She also attended a masterclass with renowned storyteller Jan Blake (UK). She has performed at international festivals in Belgium, Northern Ireland, Italy and Germany. Since 2020, she has focused on bilingual storytelling, working with notable storytellers and deaf actor Jan Sell to create programs at Humboldt Forum Berlin among others.She recently started a new collaboration with musician Erik Sjøholm. This emerging collaboration explores new creative possibilities and marks the beginning of their joint journey. Berlin based, Kathleen also enjoys creating children’s theatre and collaborative projects with Theater o.N.. www.kathleenrappolt.com
Erik Sjøholm (FIN)
Erik Sjøholm is a Finnish singer-songwriter and storyteller who blends poetic music with deep, personal narratives. His artistic journey began in a musically rich family and expanded with teachers such as guitar studies with Mathias Sandberg, or songwriting with Janne Hyöty as well as further artistic studies at renowned institutions like The Songwriters Academy in the UK, The Mezrab Storytelling School in Amsterdam and the Modern Musician Gold Artist Program in the US. Erik’s performances weave themes of self-discovery, life’s gifts, and profound moments, drawing on Nordic mythology and personal experiences. He has performed at: The Amsterdam Storytelling festival in the Netherlands, FATE in England and Oase Storytelling Festival in Berlin. www.eriksjoholm.com
trailer
"Once upon a time, there was a woman with a silent wish"
"Once upon a time, there was a woman
with a silent wish"
Watch a snippet from our performance at OASE Storytelling Festival in Berlin, August 2024
photos
testimonials
Barbara Luchs
Geschichtenerzählerin aus der Schweiz
„Ihr zwei wart zauberhaft. Ich liebte die Tiefe und den Humor. Freue mich schon auf mehr.“
Reinhold Schulze-Tammena
Education Manager
„Spheric music, narrative expessionism, and the thrilling adventure of a coin made the audience feel becoming part of narrative alchemy. That´s the invigorating magic formula of Kathleen´s and Erik´s performance.“
shows & bookings
Upcoming Shows:
(To be announced)
Bookings:
To book our show, please contact Erik or Kathleen directly via email or phone.
Find contact info below.
contact
Kathleen Rappolt
Erik Sjøholm
Copyrights 2024 |Kathleen Rappolt § Erik Sjøholm™ | Terms & Conditions