A Woman in Berlin 1945 is a solo play told from the perspective of a young woman, as she experiences the trauma that accompanies the Red Army’s entrance into Berlin at the end of the Second World War.
Tom Corradini’s innovative writing and creative direction makes for a play that is entirely unique in its delivery. Magda Pohl embodies Corradini’s creative fusion of Indian rhythm and dance with German history as she retells her harrowing story using voice and body, utilising the space around her through episodes of seamless movement.
Whilst I praise Corradini’s astuteness in highlighting the connection between these two worlds, perhaps the historic context behind this could have been made more explicit (for example, the Nazi appropriation of elements of Hindu religion). Without background knowledge, it might be easy to overlook the reasoning behind this fusion, experiencing it as slightly disjunct.
Nevertheless, the direction of this play is fantastic. Through the woman’s emotive monologue, supported by effective lighting changes and surrounding sounds of artillery, a vivid picture of war-torn, collapsing Berlin is painted. As an audience member, it is powerful to see the empty space of the stage transform into the desperate city of Berlin, achieved entirely through Pohl’s expressive movement and speech.
Unequivocally, the most evocative and striking part of this performance comes when the woman retells the sexual assault she experienced by drunken, violent members of the Soviet army. We as audience members uncomfortably sit in her pain as she is forced to submit to groups of soldiers and prostitute her body for food.
Pohl’s brilliant expression certainly makes this show the emotive exhibition that it is. Her ability to seamlessly move from emotions of vacancy as she monotonously repeats propagandist German slogans, to a humorous seriousness as she impersonates strict army officials, is truly special.
Corradini’s play, in its unique blending of different theatrical elements and extensive historical context, sensitively illuminates the traumatic mass instances of rape on young women that took place in Berlin. By bringing an underrepresented topic to the centre of discussion, A Woman in Berlin 1945 stands as a show of great significance in this year’s Fringe.
A Woman in Berlin 1945 is running until 21 August at 359a, Studio, Teatro Fisico. Tickets can be purchased here.
Image credit to Tom Corradini.
