Readings/Theater
Readings from our book “Life on Death Row”
In 2018, the theme of the World Day Against the Death Penalty was “Dignity for All” and dealt with the living conditions of prisoners on death row. The German Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty collected contributions from prisoners on death row in the USA, created a website LIFE ON DEATH ROW from them and published a selection in the book “Leben im Todestrakt – Life on Death Row”.
First readings in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt/Main with texts from the book, supplemented by paintings of prisoners, followed. The cooperation with partly professional actors and the Staatstheater Wiesbaden was very positive – the project “Readings” is to be continued in any case.
Feedback on our readings
The opera “Dead Man Walking” at the Theater Erfurt (2019)
The German Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty accompanied the performance of the opera “Dead Man Walking” at the Theater Erfurt in spring 2019. A detailed article appeared in the theater magazine “PROspekt”, based on conversations of the chairperson of the association with the dramaturg, director and main actor. Participation in a panel discussion within the framework program as well as the joint visit of a performance on the weekend of the annual general meeting of the German Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty were added.
Staatstheater Hannover: The deadline is up – Wagner’s Dutchman on death row (2017)
“The central arias from Wagner’s Flying Dutchman are intercut with the correspondence that an inmate on Texas death row kept with German Gabi Uhl from 2006 until his execution in 2014. The dense juxtaposition of Wagner’s despair-laden opera music and the harrowing letter documents creates entirely new listening approaches.”
Details and a one and a half minute trailer on soprano Caroline Melzer ‘s website!