“The Ghost of Ravensbrück” Series of Haunted Research Rituals

led by Nikki Kendra Davis

Thank you for expressing interest in the “The Ghost of Ravensbrück” Series of Haunted Research Rituals led by Nikki Kendra Davis this fall at Madlab.

Facilitator’s Bio:

Nikki (she/her) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist, haunted historian, and the creator of Theatre of the Ghostly Feminine, a feminist, political, history-adjacent performance praxis for reckoning with ghosts of erased and exploited feminized beings and reimagining their stories. She holds a MA in Performance Studies from NYU. She has led Theatre of the Ghostly Feminine workshops/lectures at various universities and theaters in Ohio, Kentucky, and New York and presented her work at academic conferences in the US and abroad. Davis has been a Columbus-based actor, playwright, and dramaturg since 2016.

Please review info below regarding the timing, content, structure, and expectations of the series. Also review, complete, and return Nikki’s “terms of participation” attached if you wish to be considered for participation. Spots are limited, and final selection is at the discretion of the playwright.

The Ghosts of Ravensbrück:

Series of Haunted Research Rituals

Workshop Information

Each of the five two-hour sessions will take place at MadLab (227 N 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43215) and consist of the following:

Historical lecture
(ritual begins) Visualization meditation: participants will be transported to the Ravensbrück campsite as it stands today and guided to engage with the ghosts that linger there.
Delirium work - artmaking with ghosts
(ritual ends) Short break
Group discussion

Sunday, September 7, 2025, 6:00 - 8:00 PM ~

“THE INTRODUCTION”

Overview of Nazi Concentration Camp History: camps existed for 9 years before the Final Solution against Jews began. So, what were the majority of camps built for? How does this history’s exposure haunt us today?
Overview of Ravensbrück from 1939-1945: prisoners were mostly non-Jewish so who were these women and why did the Nazi’s imprison them?

Sunday, September, 21, 2025, 6:00 - 8:00 PM ~

“THE WOMEN: PART 1”

Meet 4 women who were imprisoned in Ravensbrück.
Why did the Nazis deem them dangerous?
What can we learn from how these women responded to fascist rule before their imprisonment?

Sunday, October 12, 2025, 6:00 - 8:00 PM ~

“THE WOMEN: PART 2”

Meet 4 more women who were imprisoned in Ravensbrück.
Why did the Nazis deem them dangerous?
What can we learn from how these women responded to fascist rule before their imprisonment?

Sunday, October 26, 2025, 6:00 - 8:00 PM ~

“THE VIOLENCE”

What particular acts of violence took place at Ravensbrück because it was the only camp designed for women?
What gendered violences did the Nazi feel entitled to enact because these were women?
What violences did they deem necessary to enact because these were anti-Nazi women?

Sunday, November 16, 2025, 6:00 - 8:00 PM ~

“THE RESISTANCE”

While imprisoned in a concentration camp, how did these women resist the Nazis?
We will discuss protests and acts of sabotage that occurred at Ravensbrück.
What other acts/choices worked as resistance?
How did artmaking and storytelling contribute to camp resistance?
How did the survivors resist erasure after the camp’s liberation?

______________________________________________________________________

The “terms of participation agreement” will need to be submitted by Sunday, August 3rd to be considered for participation. Decisions will be sent by Wed, August 13th.

Participants will serve the research by sharing their hauntings with the playwright and each other. Participants understand that neither their vocalized nor written responses will be quoted in the play script but, rather, will inform the ethos of the new play set to premiere in their community in 2027.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Phone

(###)

###

####

In a sentence or two, why are you interested in participating?

Participants agree they are available for all five sessions (9/7, 9/21, 10/12, 10/26, & 11/16 at this time. If an absence must occur, participants agree to review the missed materials to be prepared for the next session. TYPE NAME BELOW

I, (name)_____________________________, agree to these terms.

Given this series of haunted research rituals will focus on women imprisoned at a Nazi concentration camp, participants understand that some content will be difficult. The series’ purpose is to collect participants’ experiences of haunting that arise as this history is shared and ghosts summoned. To do this, participants will be guided to deeply feel/acknowledge their emotional and bodily responses to the content/ritual. Participants will then share their hauntings with their peers and the playwright. TYPE NAME BELOW

I, (name)_____________________________, understand the purpose of the series and will commit to serving that purpose. However, I know I have the agency to keep my emotions to myself and/or to step away during a session if absolutely necessary.

This series is for folks who seek to disrupt systems of and stories that perpetuate oppression and violence against marginalized and colonized peoples. No misogyny, homophobia, racism, islamophobia, antisemitism, or transphobia will be tolerated. TYPE NAME BELOW

I, (name)_____________________________, agree to these terms.

All genders are encouraged to participate! These hauntings are important for all to experience and coalition building is necessary to fight fascism. However, by agreeing to participate, you affirm your understanding that the in-person discussions will privilege the voices of women participants. All participants are encouraged to share additional insights not discussed in-session via email with Nikki post-session. TYPE NAME BELOW

I, (name)_____________________________, agree to these terms.

My gender identity is __________________________. TYPE NAME BELOW

Given the limited space available and atmosphere the playwright seeks to curate with the ghosts, final selection of participants is at the discretion of the playwright. TYPE NAME BELOW

I, (name)_____________________________, agree to these terms.