That was ‘Die Jahrtausendflut’ in Bern in 2025
The first pilot of ‘The Flood of the Millennium’, the first scenario in the wider project ‘Politique en scène: Deciding the Future’, took place in Bern in the spring of 2025.
You can watch a short trailer for the events in Bern in 2025 here.
What is ‘Die Jahrtausendflut’ about?
Autumn 2037. A severe flood strikes Switzerland, the Alpine nation. Weeks of storms, meltwater, and extreme rainfall wash away hillsides and flood the Mittelland. The authorities are overwhelmed. Our neighbouring countries are ready to support Switzerland with their ‘Green Helmets’ – newly formed ‘troops against climate change’. In return, Switzerland must send its own population into Green Helmet service. What should be done?
In ‘Die Jahrtausendflut’, set in the not-too-distant future, the audience meets high-profile figures from the worlds of politics, business and science and must decide: join the Green Helmets and commit to climate service, or tackle the crisis alone? Human lives and Swiss independence are at stake. The ultimatum expires at 9 pm.
Performances
On 23, 29 and 30 April, and on 5 May 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting four unique and successful performances at the Bernese Town Hall, attended by 76 experts and over 700 participants. At our Special Youth Edition on 30 April, we also held discussions with an audience of under-30s, enabling us to involve young people in the fictional political discourse. We look back with satisfaction and a sense of pride on some fantastic, spine-tingling moments, exciting political discussions and a dramatic debate in which the politics of the future suddenly felt within reach and very real.
Featuring: Andrea Sprecher Olsansky, Guy Krayenbühl, Daniel Koch, Regula Rytz, Ambassador Karin Mössenlechner, Jacqueline de Quattro, Flavia Wasserfallen, Marc Jost, Francis Cheneval, Swiss Youth for Climate, Petra Sieber, Cyril Brunner, Fabienne Stämpfli, Romeo Arnold, Toni Eder, Elisa Cadelli, Benno Zogg, actors from Bühnen Bern, Tom Berger, Nathan Näpfli, Christine Badertscher, Damaris Hohler, Christian Bär, Flavien Gousset, Amélie Galladé, Nicole Siegrist and representatives of the Klimasenior:innen.
Media coverage
Wir müssen für unsere Klimasünden bezahlen. Mit der Katastrophe? – Berner Zeitung, Jasmin Jaun
In der Flut – Republik, Leonard Haverkamp
Notrat berät simulierte Krise – TeleBärn, Micha Weibel
Kultur Kompakt Podcast (ab Min. 15:04) – Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF), Anna Jungen
JD Vance ist US-Präsident und Frau Blocher steht in der Suppenküche: Ein Polittheater simuliert die Zukunft – Tagblatt, Julia Stephan
Die Jahrtausendflut – Wenn Theater, Politik und Publikum aufeinandertreffen – Deutschlandfunk, Anita Gestrüpp
Eine Vorstellung, die sich erschreckend echt anfühlt – Journal B, Noah Pilloud
«Die Jahrtausendflut»: Im Ausnahmezustand – WOZ Die Wochenzeitung, Tabea Andres
The insights gained from the four performances were subsequently discussed with members of parliament and led to a cross-party parliamentary interpellation.
Note: Further images can be viewed via this link ©Jérôme Favre
A heartfelt thank you to our partners for their valuable support:
