A theatre performance by Portraittheater Vienna

in co-operation with Freie Universitaet Berlin

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Emmy Noether (1882-1935) was one of the most influential mathematicians of the last century. Her works and teachings left a lasting mark on modern algebra, opening new avenues for a modern structural perspective in mathematics. Noether began her studies at a time when women were only beginning to break down the barriers that prevented them from entering the doors of German universities. She eventually overcame even stronger resistance when she applied for the right to teach at a German university. It took her four years before she acquired that certification (Habilitation) in Goettingen on June 4, 1919, after submitting a thesis in which she solved one of the central problems in Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

To celebrate the centenary of this event and the career of a unique personality in the history of mathematics, the ensemble Portraittheater Vienna produced a biographical play, directed by Sandra Schueddekopf and starring Anita Zieher as Emmy. It opened on June 4, 2019 at the Freie Universitaet Berlin. Afterwards the play has been performed with great success at several different universities throughout Germany as well as the Theater Drachengasse in Vienna under the title “Mathematische Spaziergaenge mit Emmy Noether”. Based on historical documents and events, the script was written by Sandra Schueddekopf and Anita Zieher in cooperation with the historians Mechthild Koreuber and David E. Rowe.  Financial support for the original production was provided by three universities in Berlin (Freie Universitaet, Humboldt-Universitaet, Technische Universitaet), and four other German universities (Erlangen-Nuernberg, Goettingen, Mainz, and Bielefeld).

“Diving into Math with Emmy Noether,” had three very successful tours in the USA in 2022, 2023 and 2025, with 20 performances e.g. at Harvard University, MIT- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Notre Dame, Michigan State University, University of Oklahoma, Brandeis University, UC Davis, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College, Vassar College and Pitzer College. We also performed the play in France (Sorbonne Université in Paris, Nantes Université) and the United Kingdom (University of Cambridge and Edinburgh, Austrian Cultural Forum London).

REVIEWS

Ravi Vakil, Robert Grimmett Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University and President of the American Mathematical Society (AMS)

„The play was a wonderful meditation on Emmy Noether and what is behind her enormous legacy. Impressively, it got right not just the facts of her life, but also an insider’s feeling for the mathematical universe as separate from yet inescapably engaged with the larger world.”

John Ewing, President Math for America

„The play was terrific – Emmy Noether felt like the real thing. Congratulations to all.“

Chris Quigg, Professor of Physics (Emeritus) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, University of Chicago

„Celebrating a dazzling performance“

Andras Vasy, Professor & Department Chair of Mathematics at Stanford University

“This was a really compelling performance that appealed to a broad mathematically inclined audience. We had a short talk on Emmy Noether by a colleague before the performance, and the combination of the play and the talk was really striking, in particular highlighting Emmy Noether’s enormous influence on how we think about mathematics.”

Karen Parshall, Professor of Mathematics and History, University of Virginia

„You so beautifully interpret and portray Emmy Noether’s life and spirit. In particular, I thought you perfectly captured her joy of mathematics, which is a sentiment so hard to convey to non-mathematicians, at the same time that you deftly conveyed the many complexities of her life.“

Silvie Benzoni, Director Institut Henri Poincaré, Sorbonne Université

„Wonderful play regarding an amazing woman, a great mathematician brought back to life by the actress Anita Zieher and the director Sandra Schueddekopf.“

Clotilde Fermanian, Professor Université Paris Est – Créteil Val de Marne, Présidente du Comité de culture mathématique de l’Institut Henri Poincaré,

“Superbe représentation à la Sorbonne le 10 octobre! Beaucoup d’émotion face au destin de cette femme exceptionnelle !“
(Eine großartige Aufführung in der Sorbonne am 10. Oktober! Sehr emotional angesichts des Schicksals dieser außergewöhnlichen Frau!)

Giorgio Gratta, Ray Lyman Wilbur Professor & Department Chair of Physics at Stanford University

“Physicists have long had a particular affection for Emmy Noether.  The play humanized the person behind “Noether theorem” and reminded us of the many other contributions she made in the field of mathematics.”

John McCleary, Professor of Mathematics, Vassar College

„It was a wonderful performance, a remarkable feat of writing and theatrical focus.“

Jim Ryan, President of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville

“It’s a terrific performance about one of the most important women in the history of mathematics and physics.”

Peter Olver, Professor, School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota

“An amazing performance of „Diving into Math with Emmy Noether“ occurred at the University of Minnesota on September 26, 2023.  Anita Zieher’s stunning portrayal of Emmy Noether, directed by Sandra Schueddekopf, gave the impression that one was truly in her presence.  Those without mathematical expertise came away with a better understanding, not just of Emmy, her personality, her career, and her difficult times, but also intimations of what it is like to be a research mathematician. Those of us who know Noether’s profound contributions and impact in both mathematics and physics were mesmerized by the play and Anita’s performance.  A truly memorable event — do not miss it!”

Bernd Schroers, Head of School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh

„There are few mathematicians for whom the gulf between the experts‘ admiration for and the public awareness of their achievements is greater than for Emmy Noether. `Diving into Maths with Emmy Noether’ does a great job at beginning to bridge that gulf. It is a tightly constructed portrait, including some mathematical details and observations which are interesting to the expert, and a gripping story, told with insight, humour – and pudding!“

Jemma Lorenat, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Pitzer College in Claremont, California

„At moments it feels as if we are in Noether’s classroom and should be taking notes. Anita Zieher captures a warmth and excitement that resonates with the academic enthusiasm one can experience at the best workshops and seminars…. Directed by Sandra Schueddekopf, Diving into Math with Emmy Noether is entertaining and important… unquestionably a resounding success for those of us lucky enough to be in that audience”

Duration: 65 minutes
Language: English

Cast:
Director: Sandra Schüddekopf
Actress: Anita Zieher
Text: Sandra Schüddekopf, Anita Zieher; original quotes from Emmy Noether and contemporaries
Scientific board: Mechthild Koreuber (Freie Universität Berlin), David Rowe (Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz)
Videos: Karl Börner
Actors on screen: Alexander Fennon, Werner Landsgesell (Voice: Florian Troebinger), Karola Niederhuber (Voice: Anne Weyner), Helmut Schuster, Anita Zieher
Music: Rupert Derschmidt
Costume: Lejla Ganic
Translation: David Rowe
Language Coach: Bronwynn Mertz-Penzinger
Photos: Helena Wimmer, Sandra Schüddekopf
Synchronisation videos: Rupert Derschmidt, Karl Börner

 

Book “Proving It Her Way – Emmy Noether, a Life in Mathematics”

Authors: David E. Rowe and Mechthild Koreuber

Publisher: Springer, 2020

This book serves as a companion to “Diving into Math with Emmy Noether” by reproducing information and photos from the brochure for the original play. It includes relevant facts about Noether’s life together with brief sketches of the four mathematicians who appear with her on screen, as well as a “Who’s Who” identifying others whose names are mentioned onstage. Readers are thereby afforded easy access to essential facts needed to appreciate the events alluded to in the script. In addition, the book also contains a brief overview of Noether’s life as well as separate chapters providing detailed accounts of important phases in her unique career. These begin with an account of mathematical life in Erlangen, followed by the story behind her unsuccessful attempt to join the Göttingen faculty in 1915, her remarkable contributions toward understanding the status of conservation laws in relativity theory, and crowned by her years of success in Göttingen, where her work in modern algebra spawned a dynamic new international school. The final chapter concerns the last years of her life, after the Nazi government expelled her along with hundreds of other prominent Jewish academics. Her brief years at Bryn Mawr College left a lasting mark on a number of leading mathematicians in the United States.