Sanat Ensemble / Nedim Hazar

This musical tells a story that remained unheard for a long time – the story of a generation of guest workers who helped rebuild Germany but stood in the shadows. Now the Sanat Ensemble gives them a voice. Around 25 participants – actors, musicians, contemporary witnesses, and a women’s choir – bring the lives of Turkish workers of that era to life. They recount the story of 12.000 employees who occupied the Ford plant in Cologne in 1973 and fought for equal rights. While radio and television provoked audiences with headlines such as “Are guest workers taking over power?”, the striking workers sang and danced in the factory, because this was no “potato strike.” The struggle failed, but strike spokesperson Baha Targün became a legend. Press and audiences alike celebrate this gripping journey through time, accompanied by songs specially composed for the musical, including the title track by Eko Fresh: “One Mark More for Everyone!” The sounds of the wild seventies also resonate, featuring songs by Janis Joplin and David Bowie, Hannes Wader, as well as Yugoslav and Anatolian folk tunes.