theatre review

The Heimkehrer – Coming Home

Antje Papenburg

Light entertainment collides with heavy history in this philosophical monologue about national legacies and personal guilt. As a granddaughter returns to Germany, she learns that beneath her dying grandfather's love of escapist, fifties music lies a denial of a dark Nazi past. "Are only evil people capable of doing evil things?" becomes the question at the centre of her search for a fatherland she can accept, and an answer is not easy to come by. Although the play is full of interesting insights and poignantly raises important moral issues of alienation, national identity and collective memory, the delivery leaves a lot to be desired. At times it feels more like an underdeveloped lecture than a play – a shame as this is a good idea.

The Brunswick, 4 – 6 May, times vary, £7.00 (£5.50), fpp 45

tw rating: 2/5

published: Aug-2008

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