Angelina Boerger ■ Kirmes im Kopf – Normal war nie der Plan

Presented by 190a.

Posted on May 14, 2026

For a long time, Angelina Boerger thought she was a glitch in the system—too loud, too emotional, too unfocused. Today she knows: She isn’t the problem, nor is the fact that we’re talking more about neurodiversity. The problem is a society that views diversity as a disorder. That has to change.

With her new book *Normal Was Never the Plan*, which will be released on September 3, 2026, Angelina Boerger—also known as “Kirmes im Kopf”—embarks on a journey through the history of being different. Starting with her ADHD diagnosis, she shows that what we consider normal today is not a given of nature. It is the product of a world that measures, calculates, and optimizes everything for performance. To uncover these connections, the author looks back to the Stone Age, when being different was essential for survival, and to current debates surrounding the concept of neurodiversity. What does it mean, in the age of artificial intelligence, to break out of familiar patterns?

In the fall of 2026, Angelina Boerger will bring her new book to life on stage. The show is for everyone who no longer wants to apologize for being different, who wants to understand what lies behind the concept of neurodiversity, and who questions what society considers “normal.” Here, no one is too much or too little—everyone is just right.

All information on accessibility at the venue can be found here.

Local organizer: Youth Welfare Office of the City of Essen Thea-Leymann-Str. 23 45127 Essen