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Was it murder, an accident, a politically motivated attack, or perhaps AI?

The body of an American celebrity is found in Bochum. Whilst the team of investigators tries to determine whether it is a murder, an accident, a politically motivated attack or something entirely different (AI?), there is intense speculation at the Bermuda3Eck, in the stadium and at the taxi rank. Who is dead? What brought this person to Bochum? Why has Trump now announced he’s coming too? Bochum suddenly finds itself at the centre of a crime thriller of global proportions.

It all begins with the police radio: the intercepted radio messages are a goldmine for all manner of media outlets. Local radio is followed by national news, until finally the international press boils over; and on social media, the speculation goes viral. The Bochum police seem overwhelmed and are under massive public pressure. Is the FBI about to take over the case? Perhaps the ICE? How will the German Foreign Minister react?

An absurd comedy unfolds, using exaggeration, suspense and pace to question the state of a society that is in a constant state of collective agitation. Whilst the media, conspiracy theories and so-called public opinion whip each other into a frenzy, the city – battered by structural change and budget freezes – attempts to capitalise on the attention. Will Bochum finally get the image it deserves: as a city of knowledge and a hotspot for start-ups? There seem to be no limits to its ambition – until reality and fiction become almost indistinguishable.

Following their production The Art of the Deal (2026), the theatre collective Wunderbaum returns to Bochum, this time teaming up with award-winning author Canberk Köktürk, who grew up in the Ruhr region and has always wanted to write a crime thriller. With a host of local heroes, we experience a story that catapults Bochum to where it belongs: right to the top.