- Event: Long Night “Dieser weltumspannend leise Ton”
- Date: March 14, 2026, Start 6:00 PM (Doors 5:00 PM)
- Location: Theaterhaus Jena
- Guests: Including Wolfgang de Bruyn, Ingo Schulze, Hanns Zischler
- Additional Date: Film screening at Schillerhof on March 11, 2026
Jena. Next March, Jena’s cultural landscape will be dedicated to one of the most significant German writers of recent decades. Theaterhaus Jena has announced a “Long Night” for March 14, 2026, to honor the life and work of Günter de Bruyn (1926–2020). Under the poetic title “Dieser weltumspannend leise Ton” (This globally encompassing quiet tone), the evening promises an intensive exploration of the author, who was regarded as a precise observer of East-West German sensitivities.
Prominent Voices Remember the Author
Theaterhaus Jena has secured renowned personalities closely associated with de Bruyn’s work for the event. In addition to his son, the author and museum director Wolfgang de Bruyn, writer Ingo Schulze, renowned photographer Barbara Klemm, and actor and author Hanns Zischler are expected in Jena. Together, they intend to remember the “Quiet One,” as de Bruyn was often called, starting at 6:00 PM (doors open at 5:00 PM).
The program consists of readings, discussions, and personal memories from his companions. Musical contributions will frame the evening and enhance the literary atmosphere. De Bruyn, who became famous primarily through novels such as “Buridan’s Ass” (Buridans Esel) or “New Glory” (Neue Herrlichkeit) as well as his autobiographical “Interim Balance” (Zwischenbilanz), shaped the literature of the GDR and united Germany with his incorruptible, calm style.
Film Evening at Schillerhof as a Prelude
A few days before the event at Theaterhaus Jena, the Schillerhof cinema will set the stage for the theme. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the DEFA film classic “Glück im Hinterhaus” (Happiness in the Back House) will be shown there. The 1980 film is based on de Bruyn’s novel “Buridans Esel.”
A special highlight for cineastes: a film discussion with actress Ute Lubosch is planned following the screening. This offers the Jena audience the opportunity to reflect on the cinematic adaptation of de Bruyn’s material within the context of its time of creation.
A Chronicler of the 20th Century
With this series of events, Jena once again underlines its reputation as a city of literature. The tribute to Günter de Bruyn is not only a retrospective of an individual body of work but also an engagement with the contemporary history of the 20th century, which de Bruyn documented literarily like few others. Given the prominent lineup, ticket sales for the events are expected to generate significant interest.
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