Theatre of

the people

Visual
Research file
-
My Berlin
photographs
Theatre of
the people

Visual
Research file
-
Locations
Pre-War

and

Post-War
Theatres
Theatre of
the people

Visual
Research file
-
People,
costumes
Theatre of
the people

Visual
Research file
-
artwork
Catriona Grant
Characters
Theatre of the
People
 Joseph
Goebbels
• In the proposed
animation “The Theatre
of the People”, Goebbels
will act as a presenter for
a musical variety show
(think “Royal Variety
Show” but not as lame).
• The Acts are made up of
a range of Musicians and
Singers that Goebbels
himself, in his position of
Reich Minister of
Propaganda, either
disrupted or destroyed
their lives and careers by
his rules and actions.
Lale Andersen
• Had a hit with “Lili Marleen”
• Goebbels did not like the
song about parted lovers.
• Song prohibited from radio
play.
• Andersen not allowed to play
publicly for 9 months,
because of the song & her
friendship with Swiss Jewish
composer Rolf Liebermann.
• Tried to commit suicide as a
direct result.
• Ordered to make a “Military”
version of song by Goebbels.
• When approved to perform
again, not allowed to perform
“Lili Marleen” & sing several
propaganda songs in English.
 Hans
Hotter
• Operatic Bass-Baritone • Mezzo-Soprano Lieder singer
• Only allowed to perform •
in Germany & Austria, in
the time of Nazi Rule
• Unable to pursue an
international career till •
1947.
Elena
Gerhardt
Her Husband, Dr. Fritz Kohl,
was arrested and imprisoned
following Hitler's rise to
power
She relocated to live in
London in 1934, Kohl joined
her after his release in 1935
 Igor Paul
Stravinsky Hindemith

• Music condemned as
• Unapproved for his “degenerate” largely due to
Russian background (was his early, “sexually charged”
brought up as a Russian operas such as Sancta
Orthodox) and his music Susanna
for “dissonant modern • Goebbels publicly denounced
classical compositions”. Hindemith as an “atonal
• Stravinsky moved to Los noisemaker.”
Angeles in September • Hindemith and his Jewish
1939. wife emigrated to
Switzerland in 1938
Marlene
Dietrich
• Worked in stage and film
in Berlin and Vienna
through the 1920s
• Had already moved to
America to pursue her
film career when WWII
broke out.
• Stated in an interview she
had been approached by
the Nazi party to return to
Germany, having strong
anti-Nazi opinions she
refused.
• She became an American
citizen in 1939 and toured
to entertain Allied
troupes on the front line.
 Charlie and His
Orchestra
• Swing band
commissioned by
Goebbels for
Propaganda purposes.
• Formed of Berlin’s best
Jazz musicians in 1940
• Made to do 90
recordings between
March 1941 to Feb 1943. Members:
• Often performed cover • Karl “Charlie”
songs with lyrics written
by Goebbels to make fun Schwedler* - Singer
of the Allies. Apparently • Kurt Abraham* -
Winston Churchill found Clarinet
them hilarious. • Willy Beking -
• Outside of their official Trombone
duties, most of the band
members increased their • Fritz Brocksieper -
income by performing in Drummer
underground jazz • Lutz Templin -
venues. Saxophone

* No pictures found in the course of

my research