Show-T.I.M.E.

Prof Mike Winkler & Katrin Storm

Chemnitz. In 1995, when music teacher Katrin Storm stood in front of sound engineer Prof Mike Winkler with a group of pupils and the determination to produce a musical, one thing led to another. Since then, the two have not only been a well-rehearsed team in their private lives, but also dedicate their free time to their shared passion: musicals. But how did they come to receive this high honour from the Federal Republic of Germany, the Order of Merit? In the Doer of the Week interview, the recipients, Katrin Storm and Prof. Mike Winkler, provide an insight into the development of the theatre club at Kepler-Gymnasium and the supporting association Freundeskreis T.I.M.E. e. V.

How did it feel when Minister President Michael Kretschmer awarded you the Federal Order of Merit just over a fortnight ago?
Katrin Storm: We were very surprised to receive this honour. But it shows that our commitment to the young people was seen as very valuable, especially by their families, but also by the school and our partners. We have become part of the project as a family. Both of our children have grown up with it, have been involved themselves and it's very nice when something like this is recognised.
Prof. Mike Winkler: It is a great honour that we of all people have received the award. We would also like to draw attention to those who are not among the honourees, but without whom such a complex form of musical and cultural education for young people would not be possible.

A teacher and a professor - why did you set up musicals?
Prof. Mike Winkler:Musicals were very popular in the 1990s as a modern form of musical theatre, especially among young people. The topics that could be addressed and the music corresponded to their everyday lives and tastes. For me, a sound engineer at the Chemnitz theatre at the time, it was an interesting challenge. There was a school that had created a play in terms of content and staging during the project days and had successfully performed it with technical support, and now all that commitment was to dry up again?
Katrin Storm: Together with our colleagues and the school management, we thought about how we could fulfil the commitment and enthusiasm of the pupils at Keplergymnasium. The working group was born. We reworked the first piece, looked for the next one and quickly realised that you can only be successful with a project like this if you don't focus on time and effort, but on community, team spirit and having fun.
Prof Mike Winkler: Exactly. We planned rehearsal camps, performances and, as a major highlight, a summer tour through several holiday facilities in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg every year. The scope of our project grew every year. In 2015, we put on five different performances, including the musical "Dracula" or Dostoyevsky's play "White Nights" and a show programme - all with young people of school age.
Katrin Storm: 2015 was a decisive year for us. We decided to disband T.I.M.E. - the dance, production and musical ensemble. Not because we no longer had any support. We could no longer realise the time demands.

Was that the end of the T.I.M.E. musical group?
Prof. Mike Winkler: As you can see from our performances today: No. Instead, at the joint meeting to tidy up after the last summer tour, we considered how we could continue. New concept: rehearsals only once a month, but always on Saturdays.
Katrin Storm: The "Freundeskreis T.I.M.E.", which had already acted as a support organisation for the working group since 2005, filled the legal gap and cooperated with the J.-Kepler-Gymnasium. It took on all members who wanted to work actively on the stage and also offered membership to parents and friends who were more supportive. His actual aim, to support this community, has thus only been strengthened.
Prof Mike Winkler: The processing of financial resources, for example for music, performance rights, costumes or technology, is regulated by the association as a legal entity. The T.I.M.E. project therefore continues within this organisation. Everyone belongs together, is protected and can therefore continue to put on musical programmes.

What are the benefits of performing musicals?
Katrin Storm: It contributes a lot to the personal development of young people. We have involved the children in the creation of the plays and they have been given responsibility for their own areas. This pedagogical concept has also inspired our current headmaster, Mr OStD St. Lamm, so that he supported us enormously when we moved into the building on Fürstenstraße. The fact that we proved our reliability to each other meant that everyone quickly realised that this was the basis for mutual success. These are intense experiences that shape the students.
Prof Mike Winkler: It's a great way to show in our social order that anything is possible if you do it together. Everyone involved in the project is extremely important. You have to move away from the elbow society, because it's not just about your own success. For example, if someone hasn't learnt their lines or choreography, you can't rehearse together. Everyone is part of the community - musical theatre conveys this very well.

How can people find out about the association, become a member or find out about performance dates?
Prof.Mike Winkler: The special thing about musicals is that they consist of so many artistic and technical areas: acting, singing, dancing, stage design, sound/lighting and stage technology, costumes and make-up, as well as marketing and organisation. Everything is developed by the pupils and students who are involved today. Our alumni network still supports us today.
Katrin Storm: Yes, that's the beauty of it. The community remains. Everyone can find their role in the "Gesamtkunstwerk", feels involved and therefore also sees their work as a valuable, useful contribution. Recognising performance and effort, working together to turn difficult problems into success, that was and still is our aim - to trust someone to do something, to transfer and demand responsibility, to help and encourage. We believe that this is what prompted the parents of the 2015 members to apply for this honour for the two of us.

The musical show group TIME 4 You emerged from the former school working group T.I.M.E. at the J.-Kepler-Gymnasium Chemnitz under the direction of Katrin Storm and Prof. Mike Winkler. With around 30 active members, it can draw on a network of friends and supporters through the association "Freundeskreis TIME e.V.". Further information is also available on the homepagewww.time-musical.de. The show group rehearses once a month at the weekend to create two new show programmes every year, which they then perform at company Christmas parties for children, company events, youth dedications or in the auditorium of our cooperation partner, the J.-Kepler-Gymnasium.

What have been your personal highlights in the entire career of the organisation?
Katrin Storm:In 2000, we were at the Expo with a performance of "Baby, komm tanz' mit mir", a self-created show with music from the German rock'n'roll era. That was a really great experience.
Prof. Mike Winkler:We had a great exchange project with the youth art school in Ústí nad Labem in collaboration with the Chemnitz Children's Association. There are many, many contacts with the older members, which is very enriching in life.

Chemnitz is applying to be European Capital of Culture 2025. What do you think of this?
Prof. Mike Winkler: I think it's good that Chemnitz has the courage to apply, because it's a great opportunity for the city to show how diverse it is. The many clubs can also show what they do. There is so much commitment that nobody sees - the application could make that visible.
Katrin Storm: The application can help Chemnitz residents become more aware of many issues. The application promotes so many ideas about how to make life in the city more liveable. That is a good impetus. The city is worth living in and this must be recognised.