When does the event start?

The event starts on October 5, 2026, at 9:00 PM. Doors open at 8:45 PM according to the information provided.

Where does the evening take place?

The event location is the Old Town Hall Göttingen at Market 9 in 37073 Göttingen.

What is the ticket price?

Tickets are available in advance from €20. According to the event information, a complimentary drink is included.

What is the focus of the evening?

Three guests will each speak for five minutes about what currently moves them the most. Afterwards, an open conversation about the present, attitudes, and perspectives will occur.

Are there reduced tickets available?

Yes, reduced tickets are available according to the event information for certain groups, including students, young people under 18, trainees, volunteers, the unemployed, and people with a degree of disability of 50 or higher.

Is the event part of a series?

Yes, the evening is part of the frei&geist tour by PEN Germany and is in cooperation with the Göttingen Literature Autumn.

Three voices, one evening: Elke Schmitter opens the conversation anew in Göttingen

Name: What is Really Important to (Me)
Start: 2026-10-05T23:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-06T01:00:00+02:00
Location: Altes Rathaus Göttingen

An evening about essentials, pressing issues, and the art of conversation

On October 5, 2026, an atmosphere of reading will be created at the Old Town Hall in Göttingen that is more a space for thought than a lecture. What is Really Important to (Me) brings together Elke Schmitter, Helmut Heit, and Constantin Schreiber to reflect on what moves, worries, and inspires us in five-minute perspectives. Moderated by Matthias Politycki, the evening opens a literary experience between contemporary diagnosis, language, and public debate.

Literary tension instead of routine debate

The format focuses on condensation. Each voice gets exactly five minutes, no topic is known in advance. A unique narrative energy emerges from this: thoughts collide, perspectives sharpen, and from the interplay of literature, philosophy, and journalism, an evening of cultural friction is created. Those who know readings only as quiet text recitations will experience an author encounter in an expanded sense here.

Elke Schmitter and the linguistic precision of the present

Elke Schmitter is one of the prominent voices in contemporary German literature. Her books combine psychological precision with a keen feuilleton perspective; her essays and novels work with irony, observational skill, and stylistic elegance. In Göttingen, she enters a dialogue that seeks linguistic clarity and intellectual sincerity more than ready-made answers.

Old Town Hall Göttingen as a place with historical aura

The Old Town Hall at Market 9 carries the dignity of a central city space and provides a fitting backdrop for the evening. Its historic location in the heart of Göttingen ensures short distances, a lively arrival, and an atmosphere where literature becomes an experiential part of urban life. The venue enhances the focus on words and the presence of the guests.

An evening for readers, thinkers, and conversation lovers

The frei&geist tour by PEN Germany stands for an open discussion culture and intellectual agility. That is the appeal of this evening: literature meets philosophical reflection, journalistic contemporary issues, and the need for a conversation beyond the usual platitudes. The outcome promises no posturing but tension, no buzzwords but substance.

Conclusion: A literary evening with attitude

Those who appreciate literary quality, intellectual precision, and an unusual conversation format should not miss this date. In Göttingen, it becomes clear how lively public debate can be when language, experience, and thought come together. An evening that resonates and invites you to be there live.