Play by Georg Büchner / Theater der Altmark Stendal / Directed by Johanna Schall, granddaughter of Bertolt Brecht
Under the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity", the French Revolution was supposed to liberate people - but its reality was persecution, mistrust and murder. In truth, revolutions are not progressive at all, they are regressive. Not because of the atrocities, but quite literally: re-evolution. In the middle of the 18th century, Rousseau sketched out the image of an originally guileless society; at the end of the century, this became a reality. The sick French social body is to be restored to its original state of health through a short, violent fever. But the fever rages uncontrollably, it can heal or lead to collapse. Georges Jacques Danton had helped to ignite the revolutionary fever in 1789, and now it was taking its toll on him. The radical Welfare Committee, which he co-founded, accused him of treason - Danton was to be put to the scaffold.
"The revolution eats its children" is the conclusion to this twist in the tale. The doctor and playwright Georg Büchner took up this bon mot in his play. He once had to flee from state power because of revolutionary activities. "Danton's Death" is nevertheless not a thesis play. It does not sharpen arguments for or against anything, but it does sharpen the senses for social turmoil. Using the example of the turmoil of revolution, Büchner shows that there is no outside in societies, but usually only deceptive prospects.
