Claiming Presence on German Stage: Berlin's Roma-Sinti Communities Embrace the Spotlight
In the heart of Berlin, two significant events are unfolding, each highlighting different aspects of the city's cultural landscape. On one hand, a contentious decision by the Berlin Senate to temporarily close the Tiergarten memorial for S-Bahn tunnel construction has sparked controversy among Roma and Sinti organizations. On the other hand, the Volksbuhne stage is set to host a performance by Romani and Sinti actors and musicians, marking a historic first for a Roma-hosted theatre space.
The Tiergarten memorial, conceived by the late Israeli artist Dani Karavan, was dedicated less than a decade ago. Its closure, critics argue, undermines a shallow Erinnerungskultur (memory culture) regarding the Roma and Sinti, particularly as the construction would alter the memorial's landscape as originally intended.
Meanwhile, at the Volksbuhne, the performance Noncia Alfreda: Heldin des Widerstands is set to explore the deeds of Noncia Alfreda Markowska, a Polish Romani woman who saved scores of children during World War II. This piece, which migrated from a Grüner Salon reading last fall to a full production at the Volksbuhne's 3rd Floor Studios, aims to fill gaps in German public discourse regarding the invisibility of Romani experience during the war.
The Grüner Salon, Europe's first Roma-hosted theatre space, has been instrumental in facilitating this production. It has been a platform for the Rom*nja Power theatre collective since September 2022, staging works across Berlin since 2017. The collective, along with RomaniPhen, enabled the production of Noncia Alfreda: Heldin des Widerstands.
RomaTrial, led by Hüseyin Demir, is working to establish the Volksbuhne as a locus of Roma and Sinti performance and life in Berlin. This project has the support of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, who justify their decision by stating it would not increase anti-Roma sentiment.
The Romaday Parade, in honour of International Roma Day, will begin at the memorial to the murdered Sinti and Roma of Europe and end at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, continuing onto the main stage of the Volksbuhne. This year, the Maxim Gorki Theatre has served as a base for Roma and Sinti theatre, under Shermin Langhoff, hosting events such as the International Romaday and Roma Armee in 2018.
More recently, Lindy Larsson's Tschandala - The Romani Version was staged at the Maxim Gorki Theatre. As the city of Berlin continues to grapple with the implications of the Senate's decision to suspend access to the Tiergarten memorial, these cultural events serve as a reminder of the ongoing importance of celebrating and preserving the rich history and experiences of the Roma and Sinti communities.
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