21 February 2021, 08:05, Deutschlandfunk Kultur: 

"Klaras Kiste", based on the children's book by Rahel von Kooij, radio play adaptation by Andrea Czesienski.

Narrator: Stefan Kaminski

July: David Reibel

Elena: Rosina Lamps

Mum: Katarina Zapatka

Grandpa: Otto Mellies

Frieda: Christine Oesterlein

and with Leslie Malton, Anton Kurth, Götz Naleppa, Wyn Engeholm, Gabriele Heinz.

Music: Frieder Butzmann.

Directed by Götz Naleppa.

Repetition.

Content:

Julius is in year 4. He and the other pupils really like their teacher Klara Meindert. But she is seriously ill and everyone has recently realised that she won't get better. She wants to stay with the children in class for as long as she can. That way they can slowly say goodbye to each other. Julius' mum would prefer the teacher to retire. But Julius and his friends want to give Klara a farewell present. They build her a coffin. A colourful, cheerful one that she doesn't have to be afraid of. When Julius' mum finds out what's going on in the shed, she quickly puts a stop to it. She believes that children should not be confronted with death. The children are at a loss. But Julius' grandfather has an idea.

hoerspieltipps.net:

The taboo subject of "death" in a story for children? Must or may it be? This very question is also the basis of "Klaras Kiste". Like the mother of the protagonist Julius, the listener is initially alienated by the offensive way in which the impending death of class teacher Klara is dealt with. The horror of this news is initially paralysing, but is then channelled into a hopeful action... "Klaras Kiste" is a radio play that is unlikely to leave any listener cold. Adults in particular should also listen to it, because this story succeeds in taking a very unconventional look at the taboo subject of death. I give it an unreserved recommendation!