A play by the Oderbruch Museum Altranft by Kenneth Anders with Jens-Uwe Bogadtke and Friderikke-Maria Hörbe Duration: approx. 75 min
Premiere: Friday, October 4, 2024, 7.30 p.m., Johanniskirche Eberswalde Second performance: Saturday, October 5, 2024, 11 a.m., Altranft Church
Thomas is the church elder. He is currently preparing the church consecration festival, which is to take place the next morning to mark the anniversary of the construction of his village church - starting with a service. But now the pastor has fallen ill - due to overwork, as there are now 15 churches to look after in his parish. So Thomas will have to preach, but he doesn't know what to say.
For him, the upcoming sermon is a last opportunity to draw his neighbors' attention to the importance of their church, as it provides them with a common place where they can meet and discuss both their life together and questions about their existence. However, the declining cohesion of his congregation weighs so heavily on him that he is unable to find any words of encouragement.
Angelina appears in this situation. She is a stranger in the village, apparently a tourist. As it soon turns out, she has a fractured relationship with the church. With her questions and the contradictory stories from the church chronicles, in which Thomas seeks inspiration for his sermon, she drives him deeper and deeper into doubt.
The growing tension gradually turns into a conversation about rural communities, about the value of a village church and about the challenge of faith in a time of deceptions about what a God-fearing life is.
The play draws on conversations with Christians that were held in 2024 on the annual theme of CHURCH in the Oderbruch. These passages are read in one act - incorporated into the action of searching for words for a suitable sermon.
DateSat. October 5, 2024