Whether or not Britain will officially leave the European Union on 29 March, the day will be marked by a BREXIT WAKE in Berlin's Literaturhaus, the prime literary museum of the German capital. The concept of a 'wake' takes inspiration from the traditional Irish funeral custom that brings together friends and relatives on the departure of a loved one. The event, which will consist of readings and music, will give Anglophiles from Germany and all nations an opportunity to mourn together Britain's (likely) departure from the EU, but also to celebrate 'the imperviousness of British literature and culture to borders and customs administration', as the organisers put it. Trinity's English fellow Stefano Evangelista is taking part in the organisation of the event thanks to an International Partnership grant awarded by TORCH, which has enabled him to start a long-term collaboration with the Literaturhaus. The BREXIT WAKE, which starts at 7:30 p.m. and concludes at midnight, features readings by a number of British writers including award-winning novelist Patricia Duncker, author of Hallucinating Foucault (1996). Duncker will read a piece entitled 'BERLIN, 1970', taken from an autobiographical prose essay which addresses the question of borders, frontiers and walls, and the problems generated by a defensive nationalism which creates Them and Us.
Who, if not contemporary writers, are better qualified to reflect on the absurd, the utopian and the dystopian implications of Brexit? Who better to riff on the intentionally and unintentionally amusing, the realer than real and the weirdly surreal? In the run-up to midnight, when Britain is set to officially leave the EU, join us at the Literaturhaus Berlin to grieve, commiserate and attempt — with a pinch of black British humour cut with courage and cynicism — to find comfort and new beginnings in literature, music and art. Throughout the night, an exciting lineup of writers will respond to Brexit and tackle the question “And Now What?”, with featured authors including Priya Basil, Patricia Duncker, Ben Fergusson, Alec Finlay, Jo Frank, Lucy Jones, Scott Martingell, Kate McNaughton, Jacinta Nandi, Alistair Noon, Musa Okwonga and Paul Scraton. Take part in a fully immersive evening that celebrates the imperviousness of British literature and culture to borders and customs administration. Anglophiles of all nationalities are in for a night of readings, music from the band BBXO and discussion, as well as typewritten, specially commissioned texts from Yael Inokai, Daniela Dröscher, Christian Dittloff und Paula Fürstenberg, members of the writers’ collective Literatur für das, was passiert, and work from the Berlin-based artist and filmmaker Clemens Wilhelm. Fueled by British refreshments, there’s no reason not to keep calm and carry on till midnight.
A cooperation with the Humboldt University Berlin’s Centre for British Studies, the University of Oxford’s Faculty of English, TORCH, the SAND Journal, and Deveron Projects.
Tickets: 7 € / 4 €
An event in English
For more information on this event please click here.
