Junges Theater Göttingen: Erpenbeck's 'Visitation' celebrates its premiere!

Junges Theater Göttingen: Erpenbeck's 'Visitation' celebrates its premiere!

The work “Visitation” by Jenny Erpenbeck is currently being performed at the Junges Theater Göttingen, which is considered compulsory reading for high school graduation nationwide. This production is just the first part of an exciting program designed to prepare students for the Abitur exams in 2026. The performance of this performance, led by artistic director Nico Dietrich and managing director Tobias Sosinka, follows a chronological narrative style that takes the audience on an emotional journey spanning more than 100 years.

The ensemble enters the stage dressed in white through a striking wooden gate, which creates an inviting but thoughtful mood right from the start. The production begins with a prologue that discusses the creation of the country during the Ice Age. The stage sets and props remain simple, but the large wooden gate plays a symbolic role and could be interpreted as a symbol of the home. “Visitation” highlights the changing claims of ownership and their influence on the characters’ identities, with themes such as refuge, idyll, loss and expulsion taking center stage.

From story to stage

In her book, Jenny Erpenbeck processes childhood memories and research into the history of her grandparents' house. In this production, the challenge of transferring the rich and vivid language of the original into a stage performance becomes clear. The costumes reflect the different eras and allow the audience to immerse themselves in the respective periods.

Switching from third person to first person makes the characters more relatable and allows the audience to emotionally connect with them. The thematic core of the work revolves around the concept of “home” – as a place, as possession and as memory – and poses the question of the (im)material security of one’s own existence.

Support for teachers and students

In addition to the production, the Abi boxes offer valuable materials for teachers and students. These boxes are specifically tailored to the requirements of the Abitur in 2026 and contain extensive teaching materials as well as a complete reading of the “Visitation”. Interested teachers have access to a digital teacher folder with expanded functions that can make lessons even more varied. Those who order course sets benefit from additional content such as background knowledge and animated solution steps, which are useful for guided class discussions.

The integration of contemporary German literature into teaching is becoming increasingly important. Not only the “Visitation” is discussed, but also other works by authors such as Paula Irmschler, Esther Becker and Joshua Groß, which deal with topics such as friendship, identity and growing up. These texts are easily accessible and can be borrowed through the Goethe-Institut's digital library, enabling a broad basis for discussion in schools.

Overall, the production of “Visitation” at the Junges Theater Göttingen not only offers a profound examination of the topic of home, but also valuable support for the future generation of high school graduates. The combination of performing arts and education is a successful initiative that provides both cultural and educational benefits.

Further information about the piece and the Abi boxes is available online: The German stage, ABI boxes, and Goethe Institute.