Mrs Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library – Traverse Theatre

The cell door opens, and a terrified woman is bundled into a dingy, dimly lit basement. A uniformed police officer aggressively tells her to give him her handbag and empties its contents on a table. He orders her to take off her coat and raise her arms, then frisks her. The interrogation starts.

This is the dramatic start to ‘Mrs Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library’, Jenny Lyn Bader’s fascinating play which recently had its premiere Off-Broadway in New York and is now being seen for the first time in Europe in the Traverse’s studio theatre.

The play is inspired by the real-life experience of Hannah Arendt, the political theorist and philosopher, who was briefly imprisoned by the Nazis.

It is 1933. The previous year the Nazis had become the largest party in the Reichstag, and in January 1933 the President appointed Adolf Hitler Chancellor of Germany. The persecution of Jews has already started. Martial law was recently introduced, and political activism is a crime.

Hannah, the young, arrested woman, is Jewish. Her interrogator, Karl, has recently been promoted to the rank of Inspector, and transferred from the criminal police to the recently established political police (the Gestapo).

Hannah is a post-doctoral student, and was the first person Karl arrested in his new job. He tells her, accusingly, that she had just left the Prussian State Library where some people go to do political work. They include an acquaintance of hers who turns out to be the president of the German Zionist Organisation. Hannah, who is not a Zionist, was unaware of this.

The inexperienced Karl at times seems out of his depth as he questions Hannah about her writings. They include a notebook which Karl thinks is written in code, but Hannah explains is actually ancient Greek. And he’s curious about her dissertation on ‘The Concept of Love in Saint Augustine’, which he asks her to summarise in two sentences.

But Karl is also interested in another book she’s writing – about the eighteenth century writer, Rahel Varnhagen, who was Jewish. Later other philosophers and writers are discussed including Kant, Socrates, Goethe, Tolstoy and Brecht.

Karl is probing to see if he can build a case against Hannah. And she is probing back to see what he really knows. She has to be very careful as so many previously lawful activities could now be categorised as crimes.

This is an intriguing play which develops in surprising ways before reaching a totally unexpected, powerful ending.  It reminds us of how easily civil liberties can be lost, and the evil consequences of antisemitism – and indeed any bigotry which results in persecution.

This is a play of ideas and a thriller. But it’s also very witty and the audience laughed a lot.

Skillfully directed by Ari Laura Kreith, the production proceeds at a cracking pace. This works well for the most part, but sometimes it felt a little rushed.

Directors and actors are keen to avoid productions getting too static and that was certainly not an issue here as the actors moved around a lot. Maybe a bit too much. I would have liked more moments of stillness.

Talented actors Ella Kaille (Hannah) and Brett Temple (Karl) have an excellent rapport. Kaille plays Hannah convincingly, conveying her charm, intelligence and wit as well as sometimes her sheer terror. Temple gives an assured performance as Karl, portraying skillfully the multi-faceted police officer.

The role of Erich, the lawyer sent by the German Zionist organisation, is being played by two actors. At the performance I saw Drew Hirshfield gave a spirited, energetic performance. Erich tells Hannah she’s being charged with treason and tries to persuade her he’s the only lawyer who can save her from many years in prison or even the death penalty.

Scenic Designer Lauren Helpern has installed an impressive archway with a cell door which – together with minimal props and the ideal setting of a basement studio – helps to create the claustrophobic and threatening atmosphere of a prison cell. Also contributing to this are effective lighting (designed by Zachary Connell) and sound (designed by Greg Scalera). Deborah Caney has designed impressive period costumes.

The play is presented by Luna Stage and Richard Jordan Productions with the Traverse Theatre.

‘Mrs Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library’ runs until 30th August. Tickets available at www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on  

Reviewer: Tom Scott

Reviewed: 9th August 2026

North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating: