Janosch: Zurück nach Uskow City in Frankfurt

Janosch, the beloved children's author, turns his critical eye to the Catholic Church in this one-man play for adults. The story follows Steiner, a stonemason preparing to meet death, who revisits his childhood in the fictional town of Uskow to uncover the flaw in his life. Through a monologue punctuated by video interludes on a television set, he recounts how his first love for a girl named Traudi was crushed by Catholic religious instruction, which painted women as tools of the devil. That early wound fuels a lifelong hatred of the Church, a hatred he struggles to overcome. The play culminates in a moment of revelation: the very desire to overcome his hatred is the mistake. With that insight, Steiner laughs and leaves the stage.

Attendees can expect a thought-provoking theatrical experience that blends autobiography, social critique, and Janosch's characteristic wit. The performance is part of a Frankfurt staging of this work, which was first published in 1992 and premiered simultaneously in four German cities in 1993. The play's title references Janosch's real hometown of Zabrze, once known as Hindenburg O.S., adding a layer of personal history to the narrative. For those interested in literature, theater, or the intersection of faith and personal struggle, this production offers a rare chance to see a celebrated author's more adult-oriented work brought to life on stage.