CHILDREN OF HOY at the House of Nature: Grit Lemke narrates Potsdam's memory culture
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A literary evening about origin, new beginnings, and the wound of memory
With CHILDREN OF HOY, Grit Lemke brings to light a generation whose life paths were shaped by the everyday life of the GDR, hopes for new beginnings, and the fractures after 1990. The evening at the House of Nature in Potsdam combines reading and lecture into a concentrated stage experience that intertwines historical experience, personal memory, and cultural-historical perspective. The event is designated as a reading / lecture and will take place on November 17, 2026, at 19:00. Admission is free, donations are welcome. ([potsdamtourismus.de](https://www.potsdamtourismus.de/event/grit-lemke-kinder-von-hoy))
When memory becomes a stage
Grit Lemke not only tells stories from Hoyerswerda but also depicts an entire social landscape: children who grew up in collectives, parents in shift buses, a city as a GDR model project, and the fragile hope for belonging. From this documentary material, a theater moment of a different kind emerges, driven by language, rhythm, and observational sharpness. Those who love literary theater and narrative speaking will experience a dense atmosphere between contemporary history and personal testimony. ([potsdamtourismus.de](https://www.potsdamtourismus.de/event/grit-lemke-kinder-von-hoy))
Dramaturgy between protocol and poetry
The strength of the evening lies in the documentary precision. Lemke's perspective as a writer and documentary filmmaker shapes the tone: sober, clear, while also exhibiting great empathy. Her book Children of Hoy is regarded as a documentary novel; the story is composed of many voices, thus unfolding its own inner dramaturgy. In the reading, this material gains special presence because social memory, biographical experience, and experiences of political turning points meet directly. ([media.suhrkamp.de](https://media.suhrkamp.de/mediadelivery/asset/05cfb96a1d4346589c5e43c9b3293b77/?utm_source=openai))
The venue: House of Nature in downtown Potsdam
The House of Nature is located at Lindenstraße 34 in the courtyard of the Great Orphanage in Potsdam. Access is available via Breite Straße, Spornstraße, or Lindenstraße; the main train station is about a 15-minute walk away, and several bus and tram lines serve the area. Parking opportunities in the city center are limited, and there are no car parking spaces on the premises. For visitors arriving by public transport or bicycle, the venue offers an urban, well-connected backdrop. ([hausdernatur-potsdam.de](https://www.hausdernatur-potsdam.de/ueber-uns/anfahrt/?utm_source=openai))
Why this evening is worthwhile
CHILDREN OF HOY is not a loud production, but rather a concentrated literary evening with political depth and human warmth. Those who engage with the narrative will experience a piece of remembered history that resonates long after: as a reading, as a snapshot of its time, and as an invitation to rethink origin, loss, and solidarity. An evening for all who seek a theater atmosphere in the power of spoken word. Absolutely must be experienced live. ([potsdamtourismus.de](https://www.potsdamtourismus.de/event/grit-lemke-kinder-von-hoy))
Official channels of Grit Lemke:
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- Website: https://www.gritlemke.de/
