Speak Older Sister, Speak!: Women's Rights as a Compelling Theater Experience in Potsdam
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When two strong voices bring history to life
On December 5, 2026, the community center Bornstedt in Potsdam will open its stage for the theater performance Speak Older Sister, Speak!. The production by ESCALA e.V. brings together two exceptional female figures in a fictional encounter: the Tunisian-Jewish lawyer and women's rights advocate Gisèle Halimi as well as the Moroccan sociologist and feminist author Fatema Mernissi.
A fictional dialogue about freedom and self-determination
At the center of the dramaturgy is an imaginary conversation between two personalities who come from different religious and social backgrounds yet fought for a common idea: women should make their own decisions and actively shape society. Their biographies become a vibrant dialogue on courage, education, political responsibility, and the power of one's own voice on stage.
Gisèle Halimi and Fatema Mernissi as stage figures
Gisèle Halimi became known for women’s rights-related trials, including the Bobigny trial in 1972. Together with Simone de Beauvoir, she founded the feminist group Choisir la cause des femmes in 1971. Fatema Mernissi researched the status of women in Islamic history as a sociologist and feminist author. Her research challenged traditional notions and focused on female participation in public life.
Music, Acting, and Intercultural Theater Atmosphere
The production combines documentary elements with acting and musical impulses. Sounds from North Africa and the Middle East expand the stage space and create an atmospheric connection between personal memory, political engagement, and cultural identity. Sharon Kotkovsky and Claudine LoMonaco embody the two historical female figures; the text and direction are by Sabine Wiedemann.
Theater as a space for exchange
ESCALA e.V. works in an intercultural context and develops theater projects focusing on feminism, migration, identity, and memory culture. Speak Older Sister, Speak! consistently continues this artistic direction. After the performance, a discussion with the audience is planned, which will lead to a direct exchange about the evening.
The stage experience is aimed at all who are interested in political theater forms, feminist history, and intercultural stage art. The theater atmosphere thrives on the closeness of the venue, the concentrated staging, and the voices of two women whose ideas resonate into the present.
Conclusion: An Evening for Strong Voices
Speak Older Sister, Speak! promises a compelling theater evening about women's rights, memory, and societal participation. Experience the fictional encounter of Gisèle Halimi and Fatema Mernissi live in Potsdam and engage in a conversation that resonates far beyond the final applause.
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- Website: https://escala-culture.org/
