Child performer Paul Plainer sits on the countertop of a commercial kitchen, holding two large packs of French fries. Around him are crates and bowls also filled with French fries.

"A French Fries Paradise" | Paul Plainer
© SLT / Christian Krautzberger

A French Fries Paradise

Akın Emanuel Şipal

Ages 10 and up

On child poverty in a rich city

Austrian Premiere: May 21, 2026 / Kammerspiele

Synopsis

376,000 children and adolescents in Austria are at risk of poverty and exclusion – one in five children. Emin is one of them. Grocery shopping with his mother is always embarrassing, as other shoppers make stupid remarks at the checkout. They have not been able to afford a full shopping cart for a long time, and healthy fruits and vegetables have become exceptional expenses. So, once again, all they buy is a bag of pasta. But Emin’s mother is like a lioness: She promises to protect Emin, and Emin wants to do the same for her. He decides to spend a night at the supermarket and soon realises that he is not alone in his problems. Together with Johanna, he settles the score with society. He realises how important it is to have a true friend, to listen to each other and to share. Because together, you can do anything.

“A French Fries Paradise” breaks the silence and puts a stop to ignorance and belittling. The play by award-winning author Akın Emanuel Şipal, which was created at the Junges Schauspiel Düsseldorf as part of the global movement 10children.org, describes a crazy night at the supermarket to illustrate the ties between malnutrition and child poverty.