Between prep talk, power gels, and performance pressure, this physical theatre piece by the Unbaked Collective explores the rising trend of extreme endurance sports as a reflection of our optimization-driven society. As they ascend a winner’s podium, the performers focus on sweat, breath, and pulse. They ask themselves what their bodies are capable of—and why they demand such performance from them. In their pursuit of recognition, pride, and fulfillment, the dancers push themselves to exhaustion, accompanied by relentless drums and the glaring projection of hyper-muscular avatars above them.

LAKTAT examines an ostensibly harmless trend and its long-reaching history: where does physical exercise end, and where does the unconscious reproduction of ideological images of the strong and superior body begin? How much search for meaning lies within self-optimization through training? Is the exhausted body a political one? LAKTAT is a performative long run through fitness influencer feeds, neoliberal body ideals, and the fear of standing still.

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Unbaked Collective has been creating physical theatre works at the intersection of dance and theatre since 2022. In their pieces, the collective explores how unequal power structures and social norms impact bodies, actions, and identity. Their distinctive, non-narrative aesthetic is shaped by precise, evocative body compositions and humorous texts of their own authorship. Grotesque movement material collides in sharp contrasts with autobiographical memories. Compositions combining electronic and acoustic music lend the works a unique atmosphere.

The group has presented work at festivals and venues such as Winterwerft, ARENA, and SoloDuo, and has received multiple awards. Their first full-length production, Herdengeflüster (WestOff 2024), addresses growing up and the hypersexualization of girls within the patriarchy. It has been shown, among other places, at FFT, as part of AUSWÄRTSSPIEL by studiobühneköln at TanzFaktur, and at the Ruhrfestspiele 2025.