In the play »Junk«, the American author Ayad Akhtar presents a business crime story which seems all too familiar in the wake of the financial crisis ten years ago. A company, which used to produce steel but is now »involved« in pretty much everything – from operating bowling centres to making cotton swabs – has become the target of the notorious investment banker Robert Merkin. To amass the necessary capital for the takeover, Merkin uses shady financial instruments, so called short-selling and junk bonds. The company’s boss sees his family legacy at risk and does everything possible to fend off the hostile takeover, while the state attorney is breathing down Merkin’s neck.
»7 Minutes« by Stefano Massini shifts the focus to those who fear losing their livelihood after a company takeover: the employees. The eleven women of the works council must decide whether to sacrifice seven minutes of their breaktime. In exchange, the new owners promise to postpone layoffs. A mere trifle it seems, but when added up for all workers in the company, the new bosses, the »neckties«, end up getting 600 hours of working time for free.
In »Junk«, the story highlights the dependency on profit – the boundlessly excessive fetish with value appreciation which ultimately renders money worthless. »7 Minutes« asks whether it is possible to redefine the dependent relationship between employees and employers through solidarity. The director Maria Viktoria Linke, who most recently served as theatre director at the Theater Augsburg, counterposes both plays in her directing debut at the DNT.
