A theatrical installation based on the story “The Sheep from Lidice” by Jiří Weil (1900-1959), with songs by Ilse Weber (1903-1944) and poems by Paul Celan (1920-1970). On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth and 50th anniversary of the death of Paul Celan.

In his Death Fugue, Paul Celan (1920-1970) writes: “He calls plays sweetly death is a master from Germany / he calls darker strokes the violins then rises as smoke in the air”. Can the poetic linguistic art make the incomprehensible more accessible beyond numbers and dates? 

At six stations in the area of the former Münchner Platz court, visitors followed a theatrical installation: they wandered in small groups through the cell wing, the exhibition rooms or the surrounding former prison courtyyards. The performers were inspired by texts of Paul Celan, Ilse Weber (1903-1944) and Jiři Weil (1900-1959). The station in the entrance hall of the former court has established a local reference. The great-grandmother of the student wo performed here was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment in Dresden by the Higher Regional Court and deported to the Moringen women’s concentration camp after serving her sentence.

The performance was be accompanied by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Children’s Choir and the Children’s Choir of “Mosaika” e.V. from Bischofswerda. Rita Schaller read passages from Jiři Weil’s story “The Sheep of Lidice”.

Concept and Direction: Olek Konrad Witt

Performers: Clara Baumert, Valeria Bobke, Lilith Diringer, Charlotte Liebezeit, Marie Mueller, Laura Pietsch, Pauline Sägling, Rita Schaller, Véronique Weber-Karpinski

Cello: Friederike Seeßelberg

Choreography: Olimpia Scardi

Dramaturgy: Philip Bode

Sound Design: Karolin Killig

Assistant Director and Choreographer / Camera / Video editing: Francesca Mommo

Assistant Production: Mareike Suck

Assistant Director: Cilly Zimmermann

A production of Re-Publik in co-production with DIE BÜHNE in the framework of the Tschechisch-Deutschen Kulturtagen. In cooperation with the Gedenkstätte Münchner Platz Dresden, DIE BÜHNE the Theater der TU Dresden, Münchner-Platz-Komitee e.V., GewandhausKinderchor and Mosaika e.V. Sponsored by the Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen and the Stiftung Sächsischer Gedenkstätten.