It’s about imposture, there’s lying and cheating and the confidentiality of letters is also violated – the latest play by the amateur drama group at the Straubing prison is all about a fake official and a few small townspeople who have a lot of dirt on their hands. The premiere of “The Inspector” based on Nikolaj Gogol will take place on November 4th. The director is Sebastian Goller. The actors are prisoners.
The Straubing prison contains prisoners who are serving long-term or life sentences. The last season was some time ago due to the corona pandemic: there have been no performances since 2019. The tension is correspondingly great.
The main actor, who plays the fake official, is one of the group’s veterans. People are ambitious, he says. “I want to perform here.” After all, the audience pays admission. They have six to eight months of preparation time behind them. In the week before the premiere, the group rehearses almost every day. Nobody wants to embarrass themselves here. The strictest audience sits in the rows of spectators in the prison gymnasium during the dress rehearsal – namely the fellow prisoners, says the main actor. But even if there are relatives among the visitors, the nervousness is great.
The choice of the piece plays a little with the environment in which it is performed. For example, when the wrong official fears that he could be thrown into prison or when the corrupt mayor pleads: “Lord, have mercy on us sinners.” The mayor’s actor has also been a member of the theater group for a long time. You can tell that he and the main actor have stage experience. But the rest of the group – most of whom are there for the first time – don’t show their nervousness and are full of motivation and enthusiasm.
Director Sebastian Goller says that he had not previously thought about the issue of rehabilitation. Since he took over the management of the ensemble in 2019, he has been aware of how important it is for the prisoners to take courses in their free time and thus distract themselves from everyday life. When he works in the theater, he gets to know the people behind the crimes they committed, says Goller. “I asked myself the question: Can I imagine someone being my neighbor? And yes, I can.” Goller says he tries to create a relaxed atmosphere during rehearsals. But, he adds, he did not find out in advance who was convicted of which crime. And: “I’m not a victim, I don’t know the victims.” That makes it easier.
There are six performances on the first three weekends in November. Entry is possible for those aged 14 and over.