Jutta Braun on theatre in the late GDR as rebellion.

A lecture about the role of theatre in the late GDR as a kind of alternative public sphere and a space for intellectual rebellion, at a time when party and state security intervened harshly in what was staged. Dr. Jutta Braun, head of department at the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam, traces, using several famous productions, the commitment of theatre makers which culminated in the demonstration of 4 November 1989 in Berlin – with the declaration "Wir treten aus unseren Rollen heraus" they supported the Peaceful Revolution. After a lecture of about 45 minutes there will be time for questions and discussion, with suitable documents from the Federal Archives shown. Before the event, a one-hour public guided tour of the Federal Archives is offered, introducing the premises, its exhibitions and the professional handling of historical sources.