Fight for freedom: plays in Chemnitz call for debate

Fight for freedom: plays in Chemnitz call for debate

In June 2025, theater lovers in Chemnitz can expect an exciting program that deals with current issues in society. Under the motto “Crime and Resistance”, the theater collective Pièrre.Vers is showing the play “Goldstück” in the former Chemnitz puppet theater. The play by Verena Güntner is about a woman who frees herself from a violent relationship and fights for financial independence. At the same time, the story is told of a child who gets involved in the right-wing scene and becomes radicalized. This connection not only addresses personal fates, but also the rise of right-wing forces from a feminist perspective. The premiere will take place on June 13th at 7 p.m., with another performance on June 14th at 7 p.m. The location is An der Markthalle 7, 09111 Chemnitz.

Another highlight is the musical theater “Louise”, which is performed in the Chemnitz Opera House. Gustave Charpentier's opera, which premiered in 1900 and was forgotten for many years, tells the story of a young woman who wants to break out of her sheltered but restrictive parental home in order to make her dreams come true. Director Rahel Thiel received positive reviews for her attention to detail in the relationships. The performance is scheduled for June 8th at 5 p.m. and lasts 165 minutes, including an intermission. The opera house is located at Theaterplatz 2, 09111 Chemnitz.

past and present

The puppet theater “Experiment on My Grandfather” is also presented in Chemnitz. In this piece, the two artists Gundula Hoffmann and Karen Breece dedicate themselves to the role of their ancestors during the Nazi regime. They research and share their discoveries on stage, paying particular attention to the impact of silence about the actions of ancestors. In an innovative production, the uncle is portrayed in the form of a doll. The performance is scheduled for May 30th at 8 p.m. in the Spinnbau, Altchemnitzer Straße 27, 09120 Chemnitz and lasts 70 minutes without an intermission.

The commitment to the issues of domestic violence and women's rights is not new, but has only been strengthened over decades. The existence of women's shelters, which offer refuge to those seeking protection, is thanks to the New Women's Movement of the 1970s and 1980s. At the beginning of the 1970s, domestic violence was not yet a publicly known problem in Germany and there was a lack of terminology. Activists campaigned for public discussions about violence against women and created structures such as women's shelters as protected spaces without entry for men. In 1974, Germany's first autonomous women's shelter was founded.

Protection and solidarity

To date, there are around 350 women's shelters in Germany and 18 in Switzerland, which represent important contact points for those affected by domestic violence. Every year at Christmas time, cases of domestic violence increase and many women are turned away from facilities due to lack of space. These challenges highlight the need to continue speaking out about domestic violence and advocating for women's rights. In 1997, marital rape finally became a criminal offense in Germany. These legal and social advances are due to ongoing social engagement with the issue of violence against women, which remains urgently needed.

The upcoming events in Chemnitz and the historical consideration of the women's shelter movement make it clear that cultural offerings are also closely linked to socio-political issues. In this sense, art is not only entertainment, but also a medium that creates awareness and initiates discussions.