IN 2000, WHILE PLANNING A NEW COURSE on contemporary German drama, I discovered to my amazement — and dismay — that the drama of the last two decades had largely escaped people's attention. It was then that I saw the need for an overview of recent developments in German drama. The present study is a result of that realization.

This chronologically structured volume is an examination of the multifaceted political drama in Germany from 1980 to 2000, and not only gives an overview of theatrical developments, but also places the texts in their specific historical context. The years of the “gentle” revolution and reunification, 1989 and 1990, certainly are among the most important dates in German history of the twentieth century. Consequently, the book is divided in two main parts, for the periods before and after reunification, each of which is divided into several subject areas. As the political situation in the eighties was considerably different from that in the nineties, the topics naturally vary. Each chapter begins with an introduction containing a brief summary of political events relevant to the themes of the plays. This anchors the plays in the political developments of the time, and provides a starting point for analysis. The introductory chapters should also help to avoid unnecessary repetition, as several plays refer to one political issue — particularly when it comes to the “Wende,” the collapse of the GDR in 1989 and German reunification.