Gerhard Meister

1928 – not a good year in Europe: The continent is in a state of turmoil and dissolution, the Habsburg monarchy has broken down and nobody in Austria knew how the young republic would develop. Whether it was viable at all. This lack of orientation also reigned in Vorarlberg, as well as a great famine which could only be ameliorated a little by aid from Switzerland. In this situation, the Lustenau teacher Ferdinand Riedmann put himself at the front of a movement which had as its aim to initiate talks with Switzerland about accession to the country. In May 1919, there was a plebiscite: 80,7% of the Vorarlberg population was in favour. However, Switzerland gave a cold shoulder to the poor neighbours, and the Allies also refused the desire: Many borders were newly drawn, but Vorarlberg remained with Austria. A hundred years have gone by since those restless days; Europe has become much more unstable again, is being challenged more than we thought possible during the last decades. A good moment to throw a double glance back and forward – and across the border: An Austrian and a Swiss dramatist write a play each for this double evening. Two neighbouring countries, two writers of different gegenerations, two different perspectives on the “Kanton Left-over” – which was the nickname for Vorarlberg after the failed approach which is regarded differently perhaps from a Swiss perspective today. (Announcement Vorarlberger Landestheater Bregenz)