Baha und die wilden 70er — Ein Musical über den Ford-Streik 1973 von Nedim Hazar | Sanat Ensemble

This musical tells a story that went untold for a long time—the story of a generation of guest workers who helped build Germany but remained in the shadows. Now, Cologne’s Sanat Ensemble is giving them a voice and bringing the 1973 Ford strike to the stage: Some 22 performers—actors, musicians, eyewitnesses, and a women’s choir—tell this story and bring the lives of Turkish workers from that era to life. 

Germany, early 1970s: Hundreds of thousands of guest workers are toiling in industry for low wages—until a “wild Turkish strike” shakes the nation and work comes to a halt at over 300 locations. The strike in Cologne was the largest: In August 1973, around 10,000 predominantly Turkish workers occupied the Ford plant, demanding equal pay for equal work and protesting against impending mass layoffs. While radio and television provoked with headlines like “Are Guest Workers Taking Over?”, the strikers played music, sang, and danced inside the plant. The struggle failed, but strike spokesperson Baha Targün became a legend in the Turkish community.  

The play weaves personal stories with historical facts. It tells of the dream of a better life, the longing for the homeland left behind, and the long struggle for recognition.  

The press and audiences are raving about this captivating journey through time, accompanied by songs composed specifically for the musical, including the title track by Eko Fresh: “One Mark More for Everyone!” The show also features the sounds of the wild ’70s: songs by Janis Joplin, David Bowie, and Hannes Wader, as well as “Yugoslavian” and Anatolian folk tunes, performed live by a rock band that includes two cellos and a baglama. 

www.sanat-ensemble.de

Text: Nedim Hazar and Gün Tank // Music: Nedim Hazar and Klaus Mages // Director: Tony Dunham // Stage Manager: Arthur Schopa // Acting & Vocals: Aydın Işık, Zeynep Topal, Barış Ar, Mirjam Radovic, Richard Hucke, Serdar Altan, Nedim Hazar // Music: Beate-Wolff (cello), Cosimo Erario (guitar, bass), Johanna Stein (cello), Jürgen Dahmen (keyboards), Umut Piera (baglama, cura, bass), Klaus Mages (drums and musical direction) // Eyewitnesses: Peter Bach, Seyfo Kurt, Mischi Steinbrück // Choir: Gülay Batak, Pınar Karausta, Sevinç Ceviz, Sultan Tarhan, Zübeyde Arslan 

Duration: 130 minutes, including intermission; recommended for ages 14 and up