Producer
Leopold Hoesch
Director
Matthias Schmidt
Producer
Nicholas von Brauchitsch
Genre
Culture
Broadcaster
ZDFtheaterkanal / 3sat / ZDFdokukanal / arte
Length
1 x 30'
Editor
Mike Brandin
Year
2003
Theatrescapes
The Herkuleskeule Dresden

"It's just the way things are: the club goes up in the East!" For over 40 years, Dresden's "Herkuleskeule" has been commenting on political events in the GDR and after the fall of communism in the old and new federal states.

The "Herkuleskeule" was founded in 1961 by decision of the Dresden cultural functionaries; after the "Pfeffermühle" in Leipzig and the Berlin "Distel", the district city of Dresden was also to have a professional cabaret. From the very beginning, the name "Herkuleskeule" (Hercules Club) has been its programme - it sees it as its task to hold a mirror up to the powerful of the SED. It does this with the subversive power of Till Eulenspiegel.

Founded by Manfred Schubert and influenced by comedians such as Hans Glauche with his unforgettable "Gustav und Erich", it was later Wolfgang Stumph, Uwe Steimle, Günther Pölitz or Manfred Breschke who developed into renowned cabaret artists on the club boards. Wolfgang Schaller joined the ensemble in 1970. It was above all his cabaret plays written with Peter Ensikat, which were also performed at theatres in the East, that made the "Herkuleskeule" a trademark for political cabaret in the GDR.

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