When Christopher-Felix Hahn’s grandmother moves into a retirement home, she leaves him a vase – supposedly a find from the forest, lost by refugees in 1945. But enquiries reveal a different story: the vase comes from the house of the Jewish neighbour Curt Courant, one of the most famous cameramen of the Weimar Republic, who had to flee into exile from the National Socialists. The performance “Scherben” (Shards) follows the traces of this artefact, linking its own family history with Courant’s biography. From Brandenburg to Berlin to Hollywood, the production follows the path of the vase and poses questions about restitution, responsibility and how to deal with a poisoned legacy.

Followed by a discussion event with Nicola Kuhn and Sharon Adler on 6 September.

Concept, artistic direction, performance: Christopher-Felix Hahn
Dramaturgy: Alexander Kirchner
Video: Adrian Terzić Adrian Terzić
Sound: Daria Redkina
Ceramic production: Liesa Fritzsche
Stage: Thilo Ullrich

The project is funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg District Office and the Ursula Lachnit-Fixson Foundation.