Brundibár-Project

2 July 2025

Brundibár. An opera and a children's book inspired to our Brundibár. Reading and Gift Project for Children. Because the story of Aninka and Pepíček and the organ grinder Brundibár is a story about the power of friendship and solidarity. This is why we decided to produce a Ukrainian (2024) and a Hebrew edition (2025) of the Brundibár-children's book by Hannelore Brenner (text) and Maria Thomaschke (paintings) published in September 2023 by Boosey & Hawkes (co-publisher Edition Room 28). These two editions are part of a project of Edition Room 28 and Room 28 e.V. We give the books as gifts to children during readings or other events to bring them a little joy and courage.

The project with the Ukrainian and Hebrew editions was initiated by the author of the book Hannelore Brenner who is also editor of Edition Room 28 and manager of our organization Room 28.

We are delighted that Vladimir Jurowski, General Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera, has taken on the patronage of our project. In his letter to us, he explains the reasons behind his decision.

It is with the greatest gratitude that I am taking on the patronage of this project. The messages of the wonderful children's opera by Hans Krása and Adolf Hoffmeister are universal and timeless: only together are we strong. We must trust in our strength, in friendship and humanity. Communicating these messages to Ukrainian children and children of all nations is an important task that I am very happy to support.
I look forward to further contact and exchange and wish the project a great response, support and success.

The project was inspired by the opera director Mstislav Pentkovsky, Riga/Latvia. When he held the first German edition in his hands in September 2023, his first thought was: ‘I think it would be wonderful if there was a Ukrainian edition to give to Ukrainian children as a sign of solidarity.’  That was the initial idea. It led to the Ukrainian and, under the most terrible impression of October 7, 2023, to the Hebrew edition. It is our way to show our solidarity.

The Hebrew edition contains all additional informative pages about the opera of Brundibár also in German. Read about its significance in the ghetto Theresienstadt and about about the motives of our project in the epilogue by Hannelore Brenner - here for download.  

In the frame of events - readings, campaigns or whatever suitable occasions - we give the books to children as a sign of solidarity. We organise Readings with music and singing for children - in nurseries, primary schools, wherever else it is desired. The artists we work with are singer Andreas Jocksch and chansonniere and illustrator of the children's book Maria Thomaschke,both members of the "Zwockhaus" ensemble. The concert pianist Katarzyna Wasiak is also part of the artistic ensemble. Andreas sings the songs of Brundibár and turns the crank of a lovely barrel organ that we can use thanks to a member of Room 28.

Would you like to organise an event or campaign yourself as part of our book gift project? That is also possible. Please get in touch if you have your own ideas for an event or Aktion. There have already been a few. Have a look here:

We will also set up a pool of artists and an organisation team. If you are interested, please let us know, contact us. 

Of course, projects like this only work with financial support. The artists need to be paid, the event to be organised and our organisation kept alive. (!)  If you would like to support us, we would be delighted. Donations are welcome, either directly to our organisation - menue Spenden -  or via the Betterplace donation platform.

Our young guests experience the miraculous adventures of Aninka and Pepíček, who want to get milk for their sick mother, rush to the market but are refused milk by the milk seller because they have no mone. Finally they are chased out of the marketplace by the evil organ grinder Brundibár... What then happens when night falls and a sparrow, a cat and a dog join the children and hatch a plan to help them is like a fairy tale. In the end, Aninka and Pepíček, together with the animals and the children of the town, have defeated Brundibár and chased the villain away from the market square. Because they stuck together! Because friendship, justice and solidarity are the source of our strength. 

Messages of the Girls of Room 28

Scenic-musical reading from the the book The Girls of Room 28 with songs from Theresienstadt sung by the Berlin ensemble "Zwockhaus".  Presentation of our Room 28 Educational project.

Brundibár and the Girls of Room 28

The author creates the readings depending on the focus and participation. The children's opera Brundibár often takes centre stage. This is because the opera plays a prominent role in the story of these girls. The new edition of the book contains a lively, authentic and informative Brundibár chapter and many other aspects of the children's opera, some of which are still unknown.  This especially applies to the module "Kindheitsbiographien im historischen Kontext" (Childhood biographies in their historical context) with focus on the years 1938-1942 in Czechoslovakia - "Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren".

Contact

E-Mail: hannelore.brenner@room28.net  Telephone: (030) 691 83 95