Homo Empathicus

Homo Empathicus is a comedy-driven play about the contemporary world. It depicts a utopian society that is entirely centred on the capacity for empathy. In this society, every human being is equal and valued for their uniqueness. Categories no longer exist. People are motivated and driven by compassion and the desire to create a collective sense of well-being and harmony. The parody of a society in conflict is not immediately apparent, but the play takes political correctness to ridiculous extremes. Even words like "ugly", "suffering", and "imperfection" are banned. Everything runs smoothly and according to plan until two "savages" named Adam and Eve burst into the structure, presenting themselves as true "people of the 21st century". Their behaviour seemingly threatens the idyllic, dominant and meticulously controlled social system.

Rebekka Kricheldorf was born in 1974 in Freiburg im Breisgau. She studied Romance languages and literature at Humboldt University in Berlin, and playwriting at the Berlin University of the Arts. To date, she has received numerous scholarships and professional awards, including the Kleist Prize, the Schiller Prize of the State of Baden-Württemberg, and the Kassel Prize for Comic Literature. Currently, she lives and works in Berlin.

Bor Ravbar (2000) graduated with a degree in theatre directing from the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film, and Television, University of Ljubljana. During his studies, he directed five productions. He received the Zlatolaska national student award for his directing of Bambina. As director, he made his professional debut in 2023 at the Glej Theatre with a production of Little Women by Nina Kuclar Stiković, which was a part of the accompanying programme of the 54th Week of Slovenian Drama. With his original project Where We Live (produced by the Slovenian Youth Theatre, 2024), he was selected for the competition programme of the 55th Week of Slovenian Drama and for the accompanying programme of the 60th Maribor Theatre Festival. In 2025, he directed the production And Many Others… based on the work of Ivan Cankar (produced by the Slovene People's Theatre Celje and The Prešeren Theatre Kranj), which was selected for the accompanying programme of the 56th Week of Slovenian Drama and the competition programme of the 61st Maribor Theatre Festival.