Exploring the intersection of anthropology and cultural history, the book delves into German public theatre's role in nation-building and artistic expression. Through rigorous analysis, it presents case studies from a transitioning post-industrial region, highlighting the significance of migrant and refugee urban theatre projects. These examples illustrate the evolving dynamics of cultural production and community engagement in contemporary society.
In recent years there has been a shift in how diversity and representation are discussed in the German cultural sector. The PostHeimat network, a three-year-long experiment in networked solidarity between major public German theatres and migrant actors and directors, discusses in this volume how to think about Heimat after migration. The contributions document the emergence, frictions, and difficulties in migrant theatre initiatives, being reflexive, research-based, and driven by cultural-policy-developing components. Emerging from encounters and plays, this study incorporates the critical perspectives of practitioners, scholars, activists, and artists from these initiatives and does not shy away from a frank reflection on failure and disappearance.