Offene Räume in der Theaterlandschaft der DDR: Leitungspraktiken und Erinnerungspolitiken am Beispiel des Berliner Ensembles und Hedda Zinners "Ravensbrücker Ballade"
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2026-09-04
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Despite the significant contributions of women to theatre in the GDR, they remain marginal figures in most historical overviews. This article responds to this situation by focusing on two key figures: Helene Weigel (1900–1971) and Hedda Zinner (1905–1994). We explore how Weigel's role as one of the first postwar theatre directors exemplifies a collective, yet ambivalently open leadership practice. In contrast, Zinner's Ravensbrücker Ballade (1961) illustrates the complexity of antifascist commemoration in the GDR. While aligned with official narratives, the play disrupts them by presenting a diverse chorus of female victim groups, creating an open space for individual memory. Both case studies contribute to the broader aims of the forthcoming Handbook on Women's Drama and Theatre in German-Speaking Europe (1600–2025), which seeks to reframe the role of women in theatre history.
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Achim Schmid
Overview
I am a third-year Ph.D. student in the Carolina-Duke Graduate Program in German Studies and a Perilman Fellow at Duke's Center for Jewish Studies. My research explores intersections of literature, film, and memory, with a particular focus on German-Jewish contemporary literature, memory culture and politics, transnational literature, documentary forms of literature and film, as well as German-language drama and theater.
My academic background has been shaped by a Master’s thesis at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, titled "Discourses of Memory and German-Jewish Literature in Selected Literary Award Speeches by Barbara Honigmann." I also contributed to the research project Women’s Drama and Theatre in German-Speaking Europe, 1600–2025, where I conducted research on 20th-century authors Lotte Ingrisch and Hedda Zinner, presenting on their contributions to German-language drama and theater. These experiences continue to inspire my focus on memory and identity in contemporary literature and performance.
I will be studying and researching at Potsdam University during the academic year 2026-27.
INVOLVEMENT
At Duke, I served as a Language Corridor Advisor in the Department of German Studies for two years. I help organize weekly German language practice sessions, film screenings, and cultural events to foster engagement within the academic community and promote a collaborative learning environment.
ABOUT ME
I am deeply passionate about teaching and strive to create engaging, inclusive, and inspiring learning environments for my students. I am continuously learning and reflecting on how to improve my teaching practices to better support student growth and foster a love for Lifelong Learning.
Outside of academia, I enjoy exploring the vibrant coffee shop scene in the Research Triangle, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, running, and immersing myself in the arts. Whether attending concerts, theater performances, or visiting museums, I find inspiration in the diverse cultural offerings of the area.
EDUCATION
M.A. German Studies, Duke University / University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2026
M.A. German Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2023
B.A. (Teaching) German Language and Literature, and Political Science, University of Stuttgart, 2022
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