Historical Background, Dramaturgy, and Design

Black and white illustration of a building in Berlin — Illustration from Berlin by Jason Lutes.

Explore the historical context of Berlin, its dramaturgy, and the design of Court Theatre’s production.

Historical Background

Use these resources to learn more about the years preceding Berlin, the political turmoil that arose during the Weimar Republic, and the devastation that followed.

World War I
- World War I: One Word | History (2:30)
- World War 1, Explained in 5 Minutes! (5:20)
- WW1 – Oversimplified (Part 1) (6:30)
- WW1 – Oversimplified (Part 2) (7:40)
- Nationalism and WWI | History (2:40)
- World War 1 (All Parts) by Epic History (1:05:00)
- Post-World War I Recovery: Crash Course European History #36 (15:00)
Hitler, the Nazi Party, and Fascism
- How did Hitler rise to power? – Alex Gendler and Anthony Hazard (5:40)
- Hitler – OverSimplified (Part 1) (6:30)
- Hitler – OverSimplified (Part 2) (8:30)
  - 3:20-5:20 covers the time period of the play (1928-1932)
- Joseph Goebbels – The King Of Propaganda (Biography) (5:45)
- The Nazi rise to power (Article)
- The 10 tactics of fascism | Jason Stanley | Big Think (9:50)
- What is Fascism? | World History Project (13:15)

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Dramaturgy

Check out these resources that shed light on some essential themes and motifs in Berlin, providing a glimpse into the dramaturgical research that went into this production.