The Investigation at the Justice Center Gelsenkirchen: Theater as a Poignant Remembrance
Date and Time
Artist
Location
Price
About this Event
Mood
Venue Type
The Investigation: Documentary Theater at the Justice Center Gelsenkirchen
On November 10, 2026, the Justice Center Gelsenkirchen will become the venue for a poignant school presentation: Peter Weiss’ The Investigation confronts the audience with statements from the first Frankfurt Auschwitz trial. Admission is free, registration is required.
When Words Become the Stage Setting
Peter Weiss’ oratorio, premiered in 1965, follows a documentary dramaturgy in eleven songs. Defendants, witnesses, defense, prosecution, and court do not appear as fictional figures in the classical sense. Their statements form the material for a production where the language itself opens the space.
Jens Dornheim's direction focuses on the concentrated power of the spoken word. The set design, acoustics, and theater atmosphere do not serve as distractions but rather for precision: Every statement carries weight, every pause becomes a moment of reflection. The audience's reaction arises from the immediate encounter with historical voices and human responsibility.
An Ensemble Between Professionalism and Experience
22 professional actors and experienced amateur performers will shape this evening together. The combination of different stage experiences gives the production a special tension: acting meets documentary rigor, individual presence meets the multifaceted nature of a historical process.
Compositions by Danny Tristan Bombosch and costumes by Angela Heid-Schilling complement the directorial work. The set design by Gesa Gröning creates the visual framework for a performance that refuses all idealization and focuses on witness testimony, memory, and responsibility.
A Theater Visit as Historical Remembrance
The Investigation is one of the central works of documentary theater. The play translates the Frankfurt Auschwitz trial into a strictly structured stage form and makes visible how jurisprudence, language, and memory are interconnected. At the Justice Center, this engagement takes on a particularly intense place: theater takes place where societal responsibility is negotiated directly.
Conclusion: A Necessary Stage Experience
The school presentation focuses on a challenging chapter of German history and opens space for collective reflection. Visitors can expect not easily consumable theater but a concentrated production with strong historical and social impact. Registration can be made at 0209 / 391 69 or via email at trias@gelsennet.de.
Official Channels of triastheater:
- Instagram: no official profile found
- Facebook: no official profile found
- YouTube: no official profile found
- Website: no official profile found
