How did sea travellers experience their journey to the colonies? What stories of illness, longing and slavery did they tell their relatives in Europe? These impressions are preserved in the captured documents of the British Naval Court in London. In late summer 2019, a joint crew of pupils from the Helene Lange School, students from the University of Oldenburg and staff from the Innovative University of Applied Sciences Jade Oldenburg (IHJO) and the Prizepapers project set sail to trace these testimonies.

In intensive research work with the digitised sources of the Prizepapers collection, students examined the material under the following aspects: Life in the colonies, life on the ship and maritime trade and privateer wars for an 11th grade theatre project. Research findings and possible implementations for the theatre project were exchanged in a joint workshop between pupils and students. The joint journey will continue in the coming summer semester with the aim of bringing the long unnoticed impressions from the Prize Papers to the stage. The play can be seen on 24 June 2020 at the Limonadenfabrik Oldenburg! Admission is free of charge.