Playful Career Entry

Since May 2006, Bremen’s city history has been successfully presented as a “living museum” at Wüstestätte 10: Within the historic setting of the St. Jakobus Warehouse in the Schnoor district, unemployed individuals take on the roles of famous Bremen figures and present themselves to visitors in (self-made) historical costumes.
At the Bremen Story House, long-term unemployed individuals learn the basics of scenic acting under professional guidance: step by step, they are trained to use their voice, interpret and present texts, practice stage presence, and perform in front of an audience.


The success is visible to everyone: Visitors to the Bremen Story House enjoy, for example, meeting a living Gesche Gottfried and directly asking her why she served her husband rat poison. The participants enjoy engaging with the life stories of Bremen’s original characters, immersing themselves in these foreign roles while playfully expressing themselves and simultaneously finding a place to hide behind the roles.


The conclusion is clear: Engaging with the stories of the lives, works, and fates of Bremen’s renowned individuals fosters courage and motivation to shape one’s own life independently. Group cohesion, mutual support and validation, and the positive feedback from visitors all contribute to a rewarding and enriching experience.