WINNIPEG – The Department of Theatre and Drama at the University of Winnipeg will remount Fear and Misery of the Third Reich as part of MTC’s BrechtFest. A fascinating and disturbing work by Bertolt Brecht, this play was first seen at the 2001 Winnipeg Fringe Festival where it received four stars from the Winnipeg Free Press’s Kevin Prokosh who wrote: “The 90-minute student show, which is at times very powerful, features many strong performances which should only get better by the time Fear and Misery is re-mounted for the Manitoba Theatre Centre’s BrechtFest next January.”
Fear and Misery of the Third Reich was begun by Brecht after he was exiled from Germany in 1933. Initially it comprised a series of short scenes, designed to be produced by amateur groups of German exiles, portraying life under the Nazis. By 1938 Brecht had formed the 27 scenes into a single play, but he encouraged companies to present a selection of them if they wished, as each scene stands on its own.
Our production presents 15 of the scenes which examine a variety of everyday occurrences during 1933-38. Brecht explores how the conscious choices of ordinary people contributed to the ascendancy of a brutal government. Written before the full extent of the Nazi horror was known, the scenes take on a more powerful meaning for an audience aware of the Holocaust.
“This is perhaps the purest form of ensemble work I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of,” says Kelly Daniels, Instructor of Theatre and Drama at the University of Winnipeg, and Director of this production. Brent Lott has done the choreography, Mark Younes has created an original score, and Lisa Hancharek has designed sets and costumes.
This project was part of a course taken for credit by 13 current and former University of Winnipeg Honours Theatre students. The cast worked extensively on Brechtian Epic Style before commencing rehearsals.
Fear and Misery of the Third Reich will be performed at Eckhardt Gramatté Hall (3rd Floor, Centennial Hall) at the University of Winnipeg as follows:
Friday, January 18, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 19, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 19, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 20, 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 24, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, January 25, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 26, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 26, 9:30 p.m.
The performance is 95-minutes long.
Admission: $6 / $5 (Students and Seniors)
For reservations (24-hours) call 204.786.9152.
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For more information about this release, please contact Katherine Unruh, Director of Communications at 204.786.9872.
