SAD-88: Play about the arson attack inspires Schwandorf

SAD-88: Play about the arson attack inspires Schwandorf

With “SAD-88”, the OVIGO Theater is bringing an impressive piece to the stage that addresses the racist arson attack on the Habermeierhaus in Schwandorf, which was carried out on December 17, 1988. The premiere recently took place in the Historisches Felsenkeller and the response was overwhelming. Audience members rewarded the performance with long applause and a standing ovation. With the production, the theater not only wants to deal with the terrible events, but also to bring current social responsibility into focus, as oberpfalzecho.de reports.

The piece, which is a multimedia collage of scenes, brings together the events surrounding the arson attack. The perpetrator, Josef S., acted out of xenophobia, which resulted in four fatal victims: a Turkish couple, their twelve-year-old son and a German man. The tragedy leaves not only human losses, but also painful memories for those left behind, including Leyla Kellecioglu, who was present at the premiere and thanked the theater group, as br.de reports.

Insight into the themes of the piece

“SAD-88” uses various narrative strands to illuminate the complex aspects of the arson attack - from the events before, during and after the crime to the legal aftermath. The piece not only integrates audio documents from survivors and experts, but also images from television news. This gives the entire work a special depth and emotionality.

The production also shows how the city of Schwandorf dealt with the consequences and the reactions of local politicians, who often tried to downplay the severity of the crime. In a larger context, the arson attack is part of a series of racist attacks in Germany that point to the tragic social developments that continue to this day. The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency has warned in its report of a worrying increase in discriminatory incidents, which shows that racism and discrimination remain a sad reality, as statista.com explains.

The impressive ensemble

The star of the production is the well-known actress Anna Maria Sturm, who sees tragic parallels to the plot - she grew up in Schwandorf and her mother, Irene Maria Sturm, campaigned for the memory of the victims of the attack. In addition to Sturm, Lisamarie Berger and Daniel Adler are also part of the ensemble, which takes the audience on a moving journey through history.

The next performances will take place on October 25th and 26th and December 28th at the METROPOL in Schwandorf. For those interested, tickets are available at a price of 17.50 euros (reduced 12 euros) via the OVIGO Theater website or at ticket offices.

Not only can the topic reflect on the past, it also forces us today to think about our own role in an increasingly polarized society. The voices of the past should remind us that we must continue to stand together to confront discrimination and racism.