HNE Eberswalde: Tatort Lücke: Das verschwundene Insekteninstitut – Spurensuche zwischen Wissenschaft und Theaterkunst

Contact

12.11.2025

Crime Scene Gap: The Missing Insect Institute - Searching for clues between science and theatre art

On 8 November 2025, the former "German Entomological Institute (DEI)" on the grounds of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) was transformed into a lively scene of science, history and theatre.
Under the title "The Disappeared Insect Institute", the Kanaltheater (Canal Theatre) invited audiences to take a two- or three-hour criminalistic tour of the historic building as part of its well-known Tatort Lücke series (artistic director Heike Scharpff) - and brought the former site of insect research back to life using artistic, scientific and culinary means.

The German Entomological Institute revived as a theatre

300 visitors went on a journey into science - and the site's past

Jana Korb shows the developmental stages of a butterfly on the trapeze

ZALF was represented with the mosquito atlas and offered the opportunity to use scientific instruments.

The video artist Oscar Löser showed an impressive video installation

Full auditorium for the lecture on the history of today's Senckenberg German Entomological Institute Müncheberg (SDEI)

Around 300 visitors immersed themselves in a fascinating world of artistry, theatre, literature, video, sound, citizen science and science slam. The ensemble and around 40 participants created an impressive overall experience that honoured the former research work of the DEI as well as the current importance of insect diversity.

For the cooperation between HNEE as part of the joint project InNoWest, the Senckenberg German Entomological Institute Müncheberg (SDEI) and the Kanaltheater, Prof. Dr Heike Molitor (HNEE) drew attention to a central topic for the future in her welcoming address: the dramatic loss of biodiversity and the role of science in a changing environment.

The evening's guests included Dr Stephan Blank and Prof Dr Thomas Schmitt (SDEI), Dr Eckhard Groll (former DEI), Dr Doreen Werner (ZALF, Mosquito Atlas project), Prof Dr Andreas Linde (HNEE) and the artists Jana Korb (trapeze art), Bori Simanyi (performance "Tanzfliege"), Oscar Löser (video installation) and Sibin Vassilev (sound design).

The children's and youth theatre club received special applause for their rapturous performance as the "Housefly Collective" and the set designers Lena Moritzen and Jane Saks, who created an impressive atmosphere with their costumes and set design.

Tatort Lücke has been a participatory performance format of the Kanaltheater for twelve years, which was developed in cooperation with the HNEE, the district archive and the city of Eberswalde. With "The Disappeared Insect Institute", the theatre has once again succeeded in combining science, art and the city's history in an inspiring way.

A big thank you to everyone involved for their commitment, creativity and enthusiasm!