The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-09-09
BERLIN PEOPLES THEATER
(By The Federated Ptessl
BY Alma Schlesinger

Berlin. So big is Germany Peo-
pies theater organization that its Off
cial theater in Berlin, Die VoIksbuhne,
accommodating an audience Of more
than $500. does NOT meet its require
ments. The management Of the Peo-
pies Theater league has taken over for
its exclusive use and is having rebuilt
another Of Berlin's large theaters. Per-
formances under the same direction as
the Wolksbuhne are scheduled to begin
IN the fall. The Berlin membership Of
this organization is over 100000. The
performances at the Peoples theater
and at the new Peoples Theater will Be
gwen every night in the week with sew
eral afternoon performances. Benefit
performances for the organization
are also arranged each season at Rem
hard's Crosses Schauspielhals, the cir
cus-like theater which holds 5000.
Less than 20 years ago this organiza-
ton started with membership Of less
than 300. all members Of the Socialist
party. The purpose Of this group was
to present plays which the established
theategs would or could not present be-
cause they were considered too radical.
They staged performances Sunday al
ternoons in any theater they could rent.
These performances, were not, open TO
| the public for then they would have
been subject to the national censor.
The organization was supported BY
memberships dues, private donations,
and the Socialist party contributed 10
considerable extent.
Prominent theatrical directors, art
lists indicators, interested in this cause
Of a free theater, gave of their time
and energy abundantly. These Sum
day afternoon performances were Of
such artistic excellence that their popu-
Iarity led to nightly instead Of weekly
performances. The national censor,
then looked upon the organization as
political and the government interfer-
led. When this difficulty had been
overcome a strong minority group IN
sisted that the theater was a political
instrument, its artistic significance Sc
lcondary. and that plays Of political OF
social interest onl y were to be present.
| ed A group led by the actors and art
isis who had contributed much toward
the growth Of the organization fought
for its artistic existence, and the poll
teal minority group withdrew to form
an independent undertaking. which fl
lnally reunited with the parent organi-
zayion.
Meanwhile this parent organization
was flourishing. Just before the war,
| this Peoples theater organization had
ileachsd such enormous proportions
That is could afford to erect its own
Itheater. the finest playhouse in Berlin,
with complete modern stage equipment.
It is located in the heart of the work
ers' district.
lis director is Kayssler. one Of the
greatest German actors Of today, under
whose guidance the theater has achiev-
| ed repeated artistic successes. Its
chief artist-producer is Fehlng.
AT each performance two-thirds Of
the theater is reserved for members
who hold season tickets for a fixed
number Of performances each season.
One-third of the seats at every perfor-
nance is available TO the general pub
lie. The big number Of subscribers
make it possible to stage remarkably
fine productions at low cost for the in
dividual member. and at d price some
what higher for the general public.