Description
For Paula Spencer, at 39, most of her life has already passed. And it hasn't gone well. The floral bedroom curtain that fluttered in the summer wind over her crib was never real – but the assaults by her father were. In school, she is classified just above special needs level. Between numb teachers and intrusive classmates, she trains dirty thinking and hardened behavior. Then she starts a family with her childhood love Carl. And again and again, she ends up in the hospital, explaining her injuries by saying she ran into a door. Now Carl is dead, and Paula begins to speak. Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle tells the story of an alcohol-dependent woman who, despite all adversities and humiliations, takes her life into her own hands. Far from sentimentality or moral finger-wagging, he illustrates a process of awareness at ground level, which condenses into a precise depiction of milieu. A furious monologue about a disappointed love and the tireless attempt to get life under control on one's own. After the performance, there will be a discussion with Thomas Ulrich (director), Lisa Bihl (actress), Petra Fränzen (Managing Director, Frauen helfen Frauen Ortenau e. V.), and Verena Schickle, Equal Opportunities Officer of the City of Offenburg (moderation). If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who needs help, you can contact the nationwide helpline anytime, anonymously, and free of charge: 116 016
Highlights
- Monologue by Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle
- Audience discussion with director and actress
- Addressing domestic violence
General Information
The performance "The Woman Who Ran Against Doors" tells the moving story of Paula Spencer, an alcohol-dependent woman who confronts her past. After the death of her partner, she begins to reevaluate her life. Following the performance, there will be a discussion with experts.
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Event Calendar
November 2026
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