Breaks and Continuities: Workshop

Since its founding as a theatre in 1996, the Sophiensæle has been an important centre for the independent performing arts. But the history of the building goes back much further. As part of the two-part project Brüche und Kontinuitäten (Breaks and Continuities), the Sophiensæle is dedicating itself to the history of its own building and the neighbourhood in Berlin's Mitte district.

Three artistic research projects in the Breaks and Continuities project explore forms of memory cultures surrounding the history of the Sophiensæle and the surrounding neighbourhood.

• Yiddish theatre and Yiddish life in and around the Sophiensæle at the beginning of the 20th century
  
• The Sophiensæle as a place of Nazi forced labour during the Second World War
  
• Bodymind politics & crip history in and around the Sophiensæle during the Weimar Republic
  

Understanding history and memory culture as a shared responsibility is at the forefront of the project. In the first part of the project, the artists will provide insights into their research in an open workshop. Together with experts and the audience, we invite you to join us for table talks:

• How do we deal with ruptures and continuities?
  
• Which voices are missing from historiography?
  
• And how can art and culture help to reveal historical gaps and open up new perspectives?
  

With research by Lotta Beckers, Noam Brusilovsky, Vanessa Amoah Opoku, Lisa Schank and Steven Solbrig, as well as input from Tayo Awosusi-Onutor (member of RomaniPhen, singer, author, publisher, political activist and mother), Kenny Fries (queer author/curator, disability activist), Jake Schneider (Yiddish activist, poet, translator, collagist and independent researcher), Maria Wilke (Director of the EVZ Academy of the Foundation ‘Remembrance, Responsibility and Future’) and Eva Yakubovska (Board Member and Project Manager at Vitsche – Activists Empowering Ukraine).

The workshop creates space for exchange, participation and joint reflection – on the past, present and future of an inclusive culture of remembrance.

• German, partly English
  
• Approx. 4 hours 30 minutes, with break
  
• Free admission