On mother tongues and foreign languages

The future of our society is inconceivable without multilingualism, diverse backgrounds, a variety of perspectives and spaces – but how open are we to this, and what are we prepared to contribute? And who exactly is »we«?

The world premiere of »Please Learn German, Mama«, based on the bestseller by Tahsim Durgun and marking the start of Bernadette Sonnenbichler’s tenure as artistic director, focuses on the lived reality of post-migrant communities. In this participatory production by FAUST Prize winner Bassam Ghazi, residents of Heidelberg with international family histories, mother tongues and foreign languages bring their personal experiences to the stage.

In a panel discussion with Bonka von Bredow, Director of Interkulturelles Zentrum Heidelberg, and with cast members of »Please Learn German, Mama«, we will focus on the present and what the future might hold. The discussion will be moderated by David Benjamin Brückel, the production’s dramaturg.