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Tragicomic Music theatre about the question how to stand your ground in an increasingly complex world

While the Nazis are sharpening their knives in the background, Charlotte Salomon's life begins to shake to its foundations for a completely different reason, when her grandfather reveals that she has been lied to by her family all these years. Her mother does not appear to have died of the flu, but committed suicide, as did a whole series of other family members. Overwhelmed by this news, 22-year-old Charlotte begins a quest. With the help of her mentor Amadeus Daberlohn, she tries to fathom what is true and what is not.

She begins to paint feverishly to create order in the chaos in her head and to reshape her life. But is that possible? Or is Charlotte's fate already sealed? She creates more than 700 gouaches (watercolour paintings) with images, texts and fragments of music. She calls the work Leben? Oder Theater? - Ein Singespiel [Life? or Theatre].

Vocal quintet Wishful Singing and the young energetic ensemble But What About present a tragicomic music theatre performance based on the true story of Charlotte Salomon. Her colourful visual history of more than 700 paintings and texts comes to life theatrically thanks to Steven Kamperman's multicoloured composition that conjures up both Charlotte's moving cries from the heart and the lively Berlin of the thirties, and the equally dynamic and humorous staging by Annechien Koerselman in which Charlotte leaves no stone unturned to get to the bottom of things. All this against the threatening sounds of a rapidly changing society.

The powerful performance Charlotte Salomon celebrates the life and work of Charlotte Salomon and tells the moving story of a young woman who manages to stand her ground despite challenging circumstances in an increasingly complex world. It is also a tribute to her work, which is still of great significance.

“ I have a task, and no power on earth can stop me from accomplishing it.”  - Charlotte Salomon

Photo © Juri Hiensch

Credits Cast & Crew

Read more: Charlotte Salomon - Life? or Theatre?