Fall of the wall

A unique exhibition exploring life in the German Democratic Republic opens this week at the University of St Andrews celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Readings, performances and discussions with academic experts and contemporary witnesses complete the programme, organized by the University’s Department of German.

The exhibition, entitled ‘From the Peaceful Revolution to the Unification’ explores the long journey to overcome the communist dictatorship in the GDR and ends with the reunification of Germany.

A wide range of memorabilia taken from daily life in the GDR, including a part of the Berlin Wall itself, uniforms and photographs, will also be on show, along with exhibits produced by local school pupils as a creative response to the topic.

The exhibition launched on Monday 30th November when the Consul General Mr. Mössinger opened the exhibition in the Gateway Galleries.

The launch was followed by a reading performance from students of the universities of St Andrews, Bath and Canterbury. Having worked on two scenes composed from original East German State Security (Stasi) documents with a drama educator and a Stasi expert, students will gave a public performance in the Buchanan Theatre.

The first scene, taken from ‘Anne in den Fängen der Stasi’ follows the life of a young girl living in the GDR during the 1970s who becomes a target for the Stasi. The second, from ‘Die Ranzenkontrolle’, details a boy’s discovery of Stasi files on his family after the German unification.

A lecture on the Stasi by Dr Sara Jones from the University of Bristol, followed by a plenary discussion completed the programme.

The exhibition in the Gateway Galleries is open to the public until the 19th December.

ENDS

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Philippa Dunn, Assistant Press Officer on 01334 462530 / 462529, Mobile: 07730 415015 or Email: [email protected]
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