Here is Soldier Woyzeck, the tortured character in the unfinished work of Georg Büchner (1813-1837), transposed into the no-man's lands on the outskirts of European capitals. Times have changed. While the barracks are today placed far away from our everyday existence, the tower-block estates have grown in their place. In those areas, there is a time-worn hierarchy, and violence, sometimes worse than in the old barracks. But also there is energy and vitality, inherited from the great tradition of German cabaret and which this production exalts to its height, somewhere between folly and extravaganza. Because, “the world is crazy ! The world is beautiful !”, shouts Woyzeck at the top of his voice. Domesticated by his superior, cheated on by his beloved, tormented by a doctor who is pathologically obsessed with experimental science and instrumental reason, the poor wretch despairing of life, totters, eddies and goes over the edge. Rabid humanity, enraged by cash filched near a hot-dog stand: rough slogging matches, but also warmth and clamour, songs and scansions of the rappers... Woyzeck's brain is no longer the HQ of human and urban chaos. There will be a murder, a murder like “we haven't had for a longtime”. Bristling with silent scenes of his own invention, written in the style of a film scenario by Thomas Ostermeier and author Marius von Mayenburg,this physical staging enrolls Woyzeck's disenchanted fantasizing in a social critique of the present times.
Distribution
Direction Thomas Ostermeier
Cast Erwin Bröderbauer, Bruno Cathomas, Lars Eidinger, Christina Geiße, Ruud Gielens, Josef Hoffmann, Udo Kroschwald, Ronald Kukulies, Paul Matzke, Linda Olsansky, Niklas Polhans, Felix Römer, Mai-Ly Schaparenko, Mai-Nam Schaparenko, Detlev Schmitt, Kay Bartholomäus Schulze, André Szymanski, Martin Winkel et “Patrock” Patrick Schulze, “Rico” Enrico Schwarz, “Sancho” Christian Garmatter, “Hawk” Ralf Habicht et un rappeur français
Scenography Jan Pappelbaum
Costumes Almut Eppinger
Music Niclas Ramdohr
Dramaturg Marius von Mayenburg
Lighting Urs Schönebaum
Fighting training Klaus Figge
Dance training Ralf Habicht
Belly-dance training Sükran Ezgimen
Assistant directors Enrico Stolzenburg, Oliver Bierschenk, Jennifer Vollmar
Production
Production Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz (Berlin)
Coproduction Festival d'Avignon
Avec le soutien d'Arte