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Photo - Hamburg Today - by Nigel A. JAMES

Ida Ehre – A Light in the Dark Days of Culture

It was the end of The Second World War. 1945. The lights were coming on again. And, in Hamburg, Ida Ehre, a popular actress opened her very own theatre. The Hamburger Kammerspiel. A very small theatre with a very small stage.

But, in those days, permission from the British was needed to open a theatre. No easy matter. But, Ida Ehre had luck on her side. Whilst speaking to the British officer in charge of theatre in Hamburg, Ida Ehre discovered that her English was exactly the same as Captain John Older's. They were both Viennese. What a surprise. The world is a very small place.

And, with Captain John Older's help and support, Ida Ehre staged many good plays from all over the world. Plays by Tennessee Williams, Giradoux, Satre, Elliot, and many more world famous playwrights. Contemporary theatre had come back to Hamburg. Ida Ehre's very small theatre was very successful. Culture had once more returned.

But, sadly, the Hamburger Kammerspiel only lasted for three very fast years. At the end of 1948, Ida Ehre turned off the lights for the very last time. The costs were simply too high.

Ida Ehre' small theatre was important for Hamburg. A very small start on a very small stage. And, Hamburg has never looked back. Elfi opened last year. Big things always start small. And, the Hamburger Kammerspiel was the smallest of all.

Ida Ehre – A light in the dark days of culture.