Die Familie Selicke: Drama in drei Aufzügen

A striking example of turn‑of‑the‑century German drama, this three‑act piece pushes past the conventions of its time, offering a raw look at ordinary lives caught between tradition and emerging modern ideas. Its debut on the progressive “Freie Bühne” sparked fierce debate, with contemporary critics noting its daring break from the familiar theatrical formulas that had dominated the stage.

Set on a cold Christmas night in a modest Berlin apartment, the first act gathers the Selicke household around a cramped living‑room. Eduard, a diligent bookkeeper, his wife Toni, and their three children—Albert, Walter and Linchen—are joined by the young theology student Gustav Wendt and the elderly neighbor Kopelke. Beneath festive decorations, everyday concerns surface: financial strain, youthful ambition, and the clash of old‑world values with new‑world hopes.

The dialogue crackles with realism, reflecting the social tensions of a rapidly changing city. Listeners will be drawn into the family's intimate conversations, feeling the subtle pressures that threaten to reshape their tightly knit world.