The date 9 November has marked several crossroads in European history. On the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the day is being commemorated with a flood of interesting seminars, discussions, exhibitions and theatre performances, as part of an event organised by Stockholm City Theatre in collaboration with the Swedish EU Presidency and Stiftelsen Natur & Kultur.

On 9 November 1938 ‘Kristallnacht’ took place, which confirmed the deconstruction of democracy in Germany and led to the beginning of the genocide in Europe. The terrors of Kristallnacht and Hitler’s subsequent dictatorship went unchallenged and the Second World War, which resulted in a divided Europe, was waiting around the corner.

On 9 November 1989 the demolition of the Berlin Wall began. The demolition was the result of popular resistance, a mighty wave of civil disobedience and protests. This symbolic event was the starting point for a new Europe, which throughout history has never been more united.

On 9 November 2009 a day is being organised on the subject of freedom of expression, rights, courage and, ultimately, the state of democracy today. Through a series of discussions, seminars, exhibitions and events we want to reflect, consider the issues and examine the meaning of the concept of democracy and what it means to us in Sweden and Europe. Participants include authors Slavenka Drakulić and Gellert Tamas, Kristallnacht witness Franz Cohn and Jonas Tallberg, Professor of Political Science. The evening opens with a celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall, where participants include Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström,  Manager of Stockholm City Theatre Benny Fredriksson, actresses Annika Hallin and Sara Lindh, CEO of Natur och Kultur Ewa Swartz and artist Rikard Wolff. The evening concludes with performances of the plays Berlin, Seven and The Diary of Anne Frank.

PROGRAMME Subject to change

BRYGGAN:

12.00–12.45 STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS

Elisabeth Ohlsson Wallin’s slide show on human rights is interwoven with stories from today and testimonies from someone who was there at Kristallnacht. An introductory course in human rights that arouses feelings and prompts reflection.
Participants: Natasha Jevtic Esbjörnsson, a witness from Kristallnacht, a pupil from Scengymnasiet Stockholm
Moderator: Erik Haag
Organisers: The Swedish EU Presidency, Civil Rights Defenders, Living History Forum

13.00–14.00 IS LITHUANIA’S AND SERBIA’S BUSINESS OUR BUSINESS?

Earlier this autumn the Lithuanian Parliament adopted a law that, inter alia, forbids positive messages about homosexuality. And a month ago, a gay pride parade was banned in Belgrade. Is it really ok that this happens in EU countries? What have the Swedish LGBT movement and human rights movement done in this area – and what more should Sweden do during its Presidency?
Participants: Maja Åberg, Robert Hårdh, Felix König, Ulrika Westerlund
Moderator: Ulf B. Andersson, Editor-in-Chief, Amnesty Press
Organisers: RFSL, RFSL Youth, Amnesty, Civil Rights Defenders

14.15–15.15 WHERE DOES THE SLIPPERY SLOPE BEGIN? VOICES FORM KRISTALLNACHT

Kristallnacht – a pogrom in modern times. How could it happen? Meet people who witnessed Kristallnacht and author Steve Sem-Sandberg. Pupils from Scengymnasiet Stockholm read texts about Kristallnacht.
Participants: Franz Cohn, pupils from Scengymnasiet Stockholm, Steve Sem-Sandberg
Moderator: Ingrid Lomfors
Organisers: Living History Forum, City Theatre of Stockholm

15.30–16.30 PRAGUE LIES WEST OF STOCKHOLM

The new Europe is changing our view of the world. East is becoming west and the EU is growing. But is all change for the better? And how do we view the Europe of today?
Discussion conducted in English.
Participants: Slavenka Drakulić, Jonas Tallberg
Moderator: Kjell Albin Abrahamson
Organisers: The Swedish EU Presidency, Living History Forum

19.00 ANNE FRANK’S DIARY

– a dramatised reading. In the role: Polly Kisch
Extra performance of Anne Frank’s Diary. Anne longs for freedom and love in this uncensored version of the famous diaries.
Director: Jonna Nordenskiöld Stage design: Peter Holm
Organiser: City Theatre of Stockholm

LAGRET:

13.00–14.00 RIGHT SHALL BE RIGHT

Can copyright law stand in the way of freedom of expression? No-one questions the copyright holder’s right to compensation for their work, but can these demands curb free artistic experimentation and other uses?
Participants: Benny Fredriksson, Ewa Swartz, Jasenko Selimovic
Moderator: Björn Linnell
Organisers: Foundation Natur & Kultur, City Theatre of Stockholm

14.15–15.15 WHAT CAN WE SAY?

Nowadays demands for restrictions on freedom of expression are made, not by those in power, but by people who feel threatened or offended; incitement to racial hatred today encompasses both ethnic origin and sexual orientation. Is freedom of expression not only a right but also a threat? A discussion between current and past presidents of Swedish PEN.
Participants: Ola Larsmo, Björn Linnell
Organisers: Foundation Natur & Kultur, Swedish PEN

15.30–16.30 PUTTING OUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER

All organisations, companies and institutions defend freedom of expression, at least officially and in ceremonial contexts. But what is the real state of affairs? Arena Idé and Timbro take examples of ‘lip service’ from both the left wing and the right wing.
Participants: Boa Ruthström, Håkan Tribell
Moderator: Per Wirtén Organisers: Arena Idé, Timbro

19.00 SEVEN – A PERFORMANCE ABOUT SEVEN FEMALE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

Guatemala. Northern Ireland. Nigeria. Russia. Afghanistan. Pakistan. Cambodia. Around the world, voices are raised in a struggle for human rights. Follow the realities of seven women from different countries and take part in a journey you will never forget.
Seven is docu-narrative theatre based on interviews with seven human rights activists.
Participants: Cecilia Nilsson, Hedda Krauss Sjögren; Susan Taslimi, Hanna Ahlström, Anna Kinberg Batra and others
Organisers: Swedish National Touring Theatre, City Theatre of Stockholm, the Swedish EU Presidency, UNDP

KILEN:

13.00–14.00 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CHANGE THE WORLD

Moldova and Sweden – two completely different countries. But the issues that concern the rights of young people are the same. Meet two young people from two opposite corners of Europe who use the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a tool in their work on human rights. A seminar that shows that everyone has the possibility to create change. Discussion conducted partly in English.
Participants: Cezar Gavriliuc, a representative of Save the Children Sweden’s youth association
Moderator: Mark Levengood
Organisers: The Swedish EU Presidency, Save the Children Sweden, Living History Forum

14.15–15.15 “AS FAR AS I KNOW THIS IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT DELAY” – A DISCUSSION ON THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL

What made the Berlin Wall fall? Which people, events and currents caused it to happen? And what role did Sweden play?
Participants: Cecilia Malmström, Teresa Kulawik, Walburga Habsburg Douglas, Peter Handberg
Moderator: Kjell Albin Abrahamson
Organisers: The Swedish EU Presidency, Foundation Natur & Kultur, City Theatre of Stockholm

15.30–16.45 “TO REMAIN SILENT IS TO LIE” – ON CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND COURAGE

On 9 November 1989 the demolition of the Berlin Wall began. The demolition was the result of a mighty wave of civil disobedience. Under the motto “We are the people”, the citizens of the communist GDR forced a change that over a few years would bring down a whole system – communism in Eastern and Central Europe was history. How was this possible?
Participants: Margot Wallström, Gellert Tamas, Brian Palmer
Moderators: Ingrid Lomfors and Björn Linnell
Organisers: The Swedish EU Presidency, Foundation Natur & Kultur, City Theatre of Stockholm

KLARABIOGRAFEN (Klara Cinema):

11.00–17.00 FILM PROGRAMME BY TEMPO DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL

11.00–12.30 ‘The miracle of Leipzig’ by Dehnhartdt/Schmidt 2009
The peaceful revolution in Leipzig in autumn 1989 started with prayers for peace at Sankt Nicolai church and developed within a few weeks to an incredibly powerful demonstration.
13.00–14.00 ‘Åter till Prag’ (Return to Prague) by Astrid Ohlsén 2009
Unique images from the velvet revolution in November 1989 in Prague, when the unlikely happened and a newly released prisoner became president. With new interviews with Vaclav Havel and the young students who took a stand.
Director Astrid Ohlsén participates in a discussion about her new film Åter till Prag.
The film is shown in collaboration with SVT Dokumentär.
14.30–15.45
‘Resan till muren’ (Journey to the Wall) by Johan Donner and Ulf Nilsson 1985
An experimental road movie about a journey to Berlin in the black of night through a grey Europe. Johan Donner presents the film.
‘Checkpoint Charlie – där det vände’ (Checkpoint Charlie – where it turned) by Ingrid Thörnqvist 2009
Meetings with the famous road block Checkpoint Charlie, where east and west met. SVT employee Ingrid Thörnqvist talks in the film about people and events at the world's most famous road block.
Ingrid Thörnqvist, Head of Foreign News at SVT and former East Germany correspondent, participates in a discussion after the film.
The film is shown in collaboration with SVT.
16.00–17.00 ‘Comrade Couture’ by Marco Wilms 2009
A new colourful documentary, recently shown at the Berlin Film Festival, about the lively fashion and art scene in East Berlin during the 1980s.
Organisers: TEMPO Documentary Festival, Kulturhuset, the Swedish EU Presidency, City Theatre of Stockholm, SVT

LILLA SCENEN (small stage):

19.00 SCANDINAVIAN PREMIERE: BERLIN

by David Hare. In the role: Philip Zandén
A monologue where Zandén investigates the remarkable attraction of the city of Berlin. The theory of the city that appears to have forgotten its history.
Directors: Philip Zandén and Susanne Marko Stage design: Peter Holm
Organiser: City Theatre of Stockholm

STORA SCENEN (main stage):

17.15–18.10 WE COMMEMORATE THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL

Rickard Wolff sings Kurt Tucholsky. On piano Göran Martling.
Dance number from ‘Hållplats’ (Stop) by Roland Schimmelpfennig, directed by Mats Ek.
Annika Hallin reads texts by Herta Müller.
Philip Zandén performs a scene from ‘Berlin’ by David Hare.
Sara Lindh sings ‘Mitt eget land’ (My own country) by Olle Adolphsson. On piano Göran Martling.
The life of the Berlin Wall in pictures. Speeches by Benny Fredriksson, Cecilia Malmström, Eva Swartz, Madeleine Sjöstedt and Eskil Franck.
Director: Jonna Nordenskiöld
Stage design: Sven Haraldsson
Producer: Yvonne Rock
Organisers: City Theatre of Stockholm, Foundation Natur & Kultur, the Swedish EU Presidency
Project Manager: Yvonne Rock
Direction: Jonna Nordenskiöld

PARTNERS:

The Living History Forum, Amnesty, Arena Idé, Civil Rights Defenders, Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen, Berlin, the Goethe Institute, Kulturhuset, RFSL, RFSL Youth, Timbro, the Swedish National Touring Theatre, Save the Children Sweden youth association, Scengymnasiet Stockholm, Swedish PEN, Södertörn University, TEMPO Documentary Festival, UNDP