What’s it about? On November 9, 1918, the workers’ and soldiers’ council of Bremen proclaimed: “What has happened? Nothing less than a revolution.” A few days later, sociopolitical reforms were initiated throughout the country: unrestricted right of association and assembly, abolition of censorship, eight-hour working days, and general, equal, secret, and direct voting rights for men and women.
Dramatic Reading Presents Important Stages
After a predominantly peaceful start to the revolution, the violence escalated in Bremen just three months later when the Division Gerstenberg marched into the Hanseatic city together with the Freikorps Caspari. At least 83 women, children, and men died during the fighting on February 4, 1919. One day later, the provisional government appointed by the government of the Reich informed the people of Bremen that all councils had been abolished. In the dramatic reading, important stages of this development are presented from the point of view of the various protagonists and the confrontation between the working class and the bourgeoisie is followed.
December 16: Reading and Discussion With the Author Mark Jones
After the premiere of the piece, further performances are planned for the next few months. A special performance will take place on Sunday, December 16 2018: Mark Jones from University College Dublin will be a guest on this day. “He wrote the most important book on the events of 1918/19,” says project manager Dr. Eva Schöck-Quinteros of the University of Bremen. Tickets for all performances are available from the bremer shakespeare company (bsc) for €13 (discounted tickets €6).
About the Project
“From the Files to the Stage” is the title given to history and theatre projects on topics from the Hanseatic city’s past that have been developed at the University of Bremen since 2007. Students from the Institute of History at the University of Bremen and actors from the bremer shakespeare company develop and stage dramatic readings from original historical documents.
Numerous Sponsors
The project “From the Files to the Stage” is supported by the Bremen state archives, the alumni association at the University of Bremen, the Manfred und Ursula Fluß-Stiftung (Manfred and Ursula Fluß foundation), the schwelle Foundation, and the University of Bremen Foundation.
Additional Information:
www.sprechende-akten.uni-bremen.de/
www.shakespeare-company.com/repertoire/das-ganze-deutsche-reich-steht-heute-gegen-uns
Contact:
Dr. Eva Schöck-Quinteros
Institute of History
Faculty of Social Sciences
University of Bremen
Tel.: +49 421 218-67251
E-mail: esqprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
