I Am Then He - Catharina Linck 1687-1721 - Play in 3 Acts by Marcus Everding

Under the patronage of Halberstadt's mayor, Mr. Daniel Szarrata, THE PLAY for Halberstadt, from Halberstadt, with Halberstadt and beyond. She appears completely unexpectedly. In our presence. Her name: Catharina Margaretha Linck. This impressive person was executed in Halberstadt in 1721 as the last woman, but now she stands before us, alive and witty, in the Martinikirche, drawing us into her adventurous life that takes our breath away.

Catharina is born in Halle in 1687, grows up in an orphanage, and decides at the age of 15 to live as a man, becoming Anastasius Lagrantinus Rosenstengel. He is then a prophet of a sect, fights as a soldier in the War of the Spanish Succession, engages in sexual relationships, loves, and changes confessions at will. Eventually, he marries a woman in Halberstadt. It is love. A daring love in these times. This relationship is uncovered by the mother-in-law. Both women are imprisoned and put on trial. At the age of 34, Catharina is executed in the fish market. The verdict reads "fornication with a woman." His wife is sentenced to three years of hard labor.

Over 300 years later, Catharina's story is brought back to life. A forgotten, willful, brave woman is resurrected in the theater. Munich author Marcus Everding has created a fast-paced play for Halberstadt based on historical facts, which is at once a thrilling legal drama, an opulent historical spectacle, a rogue comedy, and a touching portrait of a person who did nothing but live as she – as he wanted. A powerful piece for our time.