“Speaking is the most peaceful war we humans can wage, though words and the meanings they carry can leave deep craters in our souls, depending on which bomb of meaning has been thrown at us.” (Frenk, 2024)

Marina Frenk (b. 1986), an actress, writer, and musician, has established a unique presence in Germany’s cultural scene. Born in Chisinau, Moldova, she moved to Germany in 1993, where her artistic worldview was shaped. She studied at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen and performed at notable theaters such as Schauspielhaus Bochum, Schauspiel Leipzig, and Berlin’s Maxim Gorki Theater. Frenk’s work delves deeply into themes of identity, history, and the complex human experience, often informed by her Jewish heritage.

Her Jewish roots influence her artistic choices, often exploring Jewish history and identity. For example, in “Ich heb’ dir die Welt aus den Angeln” (I’ll Unhinge the World for You) at the Neuköllner Oper, she not only performing the play, but also contributed a song that questions the value of political ideologies in creating a just world. The play focused on Olga Benario, a Jewish communist activist and symbol of resistance.

In 2020, Frenk published “ewig her und gar nicht wahr” (Ages Ago and Not True at All), a novel about migration, heritage, and belonging. Her recent theater projects have defined her artistic development, especially “EINE NIERE HAT NICHTS MIT POLITIK ZU TUN – Gespenster des Totaliautaripostkommupseudoeurasiismus” (A Kidney Has Nothing to Do with Politics – Ghosts of Totalitarian Pseudo Eurasianism) at the Maxim Gorki Theater. In this production, which she directed and performed in with three musicians, she partially authored the text, interweaving it with writings by Eastern European and Russian authors imprisoned under Putin’s regime. The play explores physical and psychological torment while questioning what “freedom of thought” entails and whether political art can bring about real change.

After October 7, 2023, she participated in “Wie man nach einem Massaker humanistisch bleibt in 17 Schritten” (How to Stay Humanistic After a Massacre in 17 Steps), directed by Israeli Sapir Heller at the Gorki Theater. The piece examines the moral dilemmas of maintaining humanistic values in the midst of violence, particularly in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and challenges the audience to confront the fragility of empathy and civilizational ideals.

In August 2024, a new text by her, “Ein Versuch, sich zu Abschieden” (An Attempt to Say Goodbye), appeared in the anthology “Wir schon wieder” (We, Again) by Rowohlt Verlag. The piece is a poetic exploration of the Russian language, identity, and historical oppression, with reflections on the Soviet Union and the war in Ukraine. Despite their different backgrounds, the authors share common experiences as Jewish immigrants grappling with the dynamics of German society.

Frenk’s body of work serves as a profound exploration of identity and resilience, compelling audiences to confront difficult histories and contemporary traumas. Her performances and writings foster dialogue and urge engagement with the complexities of past and present experiences.