Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

Flying is a privilege
one sits on a throne
just one level beneath god

He packed a small suitcase,
He took a satchel with maps,
a sleeping bag,
15 quarts of engine oil,
a life vest,
motorcycle crash helmet.

On the 27th of May 1987, Mathias Rust, then barely 19 years old, landed a small plane on Red Square in the last days of the Cold War. Like an iron dove, he flew across the Iron Curtain in the hopes of bridging the gap between East and West. A heroic act or an irresponsible and dangerous exploit? Rust was sentenced to four years in prison. Only two years later, the wall came down and the two Germanies were reunified. Did Rust’s impulsive act contribute to those events after all?

Katja Dreyer previously performed at Vooruit as an actress in ‘While we were holding it together’ by Ivana Müler. ‘Ueberflieger’ is her first own production. It’s a lecture/performance in which Dreyer makes Mathias Rust’s story her own and adds a personal touch to it. History, the collective memory and personal memories are interwoven in this interesting piece.

• You can also get a combined ticket for this performance and Antonia Baehr.