In the penal colony

This is one of Kafka's most important works, which is not without reason on the reading list for the high school graduation exam.

But how did the Chemnitz Theater bring this novel to the stage? We, the upper school students of the International Gymnasium Reinsdorf, set out to find out.

In a gloomy atmosphere in a small, intimate room in the Spinnbau, you accompany the soldier's stomping for a long time and watch spellbound as he prepares the torture machine.

Everyone watches the events unfold with bated breath, even though they differ from Kafka's novel, in which the officer prepares the death apparatus. After a long, tense wait during the preparations, the tension in the room is palpable.

Although director Bogdan Koca changed some aspects of the novel for the stage, one thing remains clear: this performance continued to be a topic of conversation within the class long after the evening was over.

I particularly remember the portrayal of the officer. His magnificent acting performance, his confident delivery of the lines, and his embodiment of the situation made the play complete.

The performance ended with well-deserved applause for the actors and the team at the Chemnitz Theater, and we are glad that we had the opportunity not only to read this compulsory work, but also to experience it in the flesh.