Body, history, violence – three key concepts in Heiner Müller’s work, which is as multi-layered and marked by fractures as the author’s life itself. The author, inextricably tied to Berlin – censored, feared, hesitantly embraced and finally celebrated – confronts us with challenges. This production is the conclusion of Oliver Frljić’s War Trilogy. In it he complements Philoktet with additional texts by Heiner Müller, Die Schlacht (The Battle) and Germania 3 Gespenster am Toten Mann (Ghosts at the Dead Man) in particular. In his adaptation of Sophocles’ Philoctetes, Müller sets up his heroes to clash in a game about reason and violence, lies and political constraints. In light of today’s wars, a spirited, sensorial analysis emerges on our stage, an analysis of personal corruption, societal repression and amoral excessiveness.
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Premiere on 25/März 2023
Performance rights: henschel SCHAUSPIEL Theaterverlag Berlin GmbH
Note: The production uses, stroboscopic lights and explicit photographs from war and crisis zones.
Photo: Esra Rotthoff
Stage photos: Ute Langkafel