Let's imagine the following: The economic miracle after the Second World War took place not in Germany, but in Turkey, and German guest workers helped to rebuild Turkey. It was not Bonn that welcomed the new arrivals, but Istanbul. With a strikingly simple reversal of perspective and based on their own family experiences and questions they ask themselves about home and arrival, director Selen Kara, author Akın Emanuel Şipal and musician Torsten Kindermann tell the tragicomic life story of Bonn guest worker Klaus Gruber in the foreign and dazzling metropolis in ISTANBUL. In the 1960s, he had to leave behind his wife, children and his beloved football club, 1. FC Köln, and came to a country whose language was foreign to him. His wife Luise and children soon followed him. Initial difficulties were gradually overcome, and the family settled in. At some point, the children spoke Turkish better than German. The family settles into the vibrant city. Yet, a conflict remains: Klaus continues to build the house in Bonn he's been saving up for in Istanbul, even though he no longer seriously intends to return to Germany with his family. Between workbenches, bazaars, the vibrant nightlife, and teahouses (none of which serves hand-brewed filter coffee), we experience everyday life as an expat in German scenes, while the longing for happiness, love, and home is sung in Turkish. The focus is on the songs of Sezen Aksu, the queen of Turkish pop, who have accompanied three generations of Turkish society around the world.

EPSG:4326

Istanbul

Schauspielhaus Bad Godesberg

Paula meets Paul in front of her apartment building. They don't know each other and pass each other by. Everything could have turned out differently. That's often how it is. She works in a supermarket and is a single mother. At a funfair, she meets Colly – not exactly a jackpot, but at least a welcome distraction from her monotonous everyday life. And who knows, maybe he's the love of her life. She gets pregnant and gives birth to their child alone in the hospital. The doctor warns her against another pregnancy; she barely survived this one. Back home, Colly cheats on her with another woman. No, he wasn't the love of her life. Maybe she'll simply accept the offer from Saft, a well-off but much older businessman. He would be a father to the children and provide them with financial security. She doesn't love him, but it does sound tempting not to have to handle everything alone. A person can't just sleep and work all day. But one day she wants to really party, so she goes out. In a bar, she meets Paul a second time. She falls in love and throws herself passionately into the relationship. But Paul is married with a child. Life isn't kind to Paula again. They separate, and her despair causes Paula to lose her attention for a moment. A tragic accident changes everything. Paul can no longer stand his marriage and chooses Paula, whom he can win back. And now, for both of them, great happiness could finally come true. When Paula becomes pregnant for the third time, she has to make a decision – and chooses hope.

Roland Riebeling

Events

Past events

Apr 17 - May 15, 2025

Istanbul · Theater Bonn

Apr 13 - May 3, 2025

The Legend of Paul and Paula · Theater Bonn

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