German documentary theater show lands in Beijing

World
Europe

By CGTN's Shen Li

The documentary theater production "Tripping Stones State Theater" is to premiere in Beijing on Friday as part of the Chinese edition of the Berliner Theatertreffen.

The Berliner Theatertreffen, along with France's Le Festival d'Avignon and Edinburgh's International Festival, is one of the biggest theatrical events in the world.

It's been an annual fixture in Berlin for over 50 years, and is now back in China for a second year.

CGTN Photo

Representing the finest of German documentary theater, "Tripping Stones State Theatre" takes a close look at the history of one German theater house, the Badisches Staatsschauspiel in Karlsruhe.

Based on historical archives and staff records, director Hans-Werner Kroesinger and dramatist Regina Dura reconstruct the fate of a group of Jewish artists under Nazi persecution.

"The special thing about the play is that usually what the theater does is (to ) tell people what happens from the outside, but this play shows what happens inside the theater, the actress and the stage designers," the director explains.

Goethe-Institut Photo

The play offers an immersive experience as the audience gets to sit alongside the actors and become an essential part of the performance.

Director Hans-Werner Kroesinger said that as documents pass the table the audience gets involved because they can see the process of selection, so the actors are influenced by the energy of the audience.

When Theatertreffen came to China for the first time in 2016, more than 9,300 people watched the performances of three plays including Deutsches Theater Berlin's version of Waiting for Godot, and Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin's Common Ground.

More than 4,700 people took part in accompanying programs, such as talks and workshops.

2km