King Lear

King Lear

by William Shakespeare
translated and newly adapted by Thomas Melle
Directed by Anne Lenk

PFAUEN
Premiere: 19 October 2024
ca. 3 h, incl. break

«No heaven without a ride through hell.»

King Lear has a clever idea to maintain his power: to pass his wealth and possessions onto his three daughters Regan, Goneril, and Cordelia well in advance of his death; not however, without retaining the title of king with all its privileges. Of course. Instead of gratitude and harmony, he is met by a lack of understanding and insurrection. The young women settle old scores with their father and summon a turning point in history: “Equal rights for all people”. The end of patriarchy and hierarchy? Let Lear’s nightmare begin.

In his adaptation, author Thomas Melle stays close to the Shakespearean original while making it cleverly up-to-date. Director Anne Lenk is in excellent company. Working for the first time in Zurich, she like no other has managed in recent years to put a new spin on old works with casting surprises, subtle shifts of emphasis, and high-precision ensemble performance. KING LEAR addresses the transformations that currently concern us and questions legacy both financially and immaterially. What do we want to pass on? What does our shared tomorrow look like?

 

Trigger warning: This production contains depictions or descriptions of physical, psychological and verbal violence. Sensory warning: Loud noises, smoke/fog and flickering light in places.

Audio guide
Introduction: David Heiligers, Co-Lead Dramaturg/Deputy Artistic Director

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

© Arno Declair

Rainer Bock
Lear
Nancy Mensah-Offei
Goneril
Lea Sophie Salfeld
Regan
Sasha Melroch
Cordelia
Lena Schwarz
Kent / fool
Karin Pfammatter
Gloucester
Steven Adjei Sowah
Edmund
Johann Jürgens
Edgar
Hanna Eichel
Oswald
Follower
Michel Brambilla
Lennart Falck
Franz Fontanive
Kurt Heller
Markus Keusch
Beat de Roche
Pino Simili
Tom Willard
staging
Stage design
Costume design
Light design
Carsten Schmidt
Dramaturgy
Artistic Mediation T&S
Franziska Bill
Director’s Assistant
Mahlia Theismann
Stage design assistance
Costume Design assistance
Eva Bienert
Costume design Assistance
Anna-Thea Jaeger
Assistant directing internship
Anna Vankova
Assistant set design
Zoë Bertram
Assistant costume design
Maxine Heft
Production intern
Ilia La Belle (Theaterjahr)
Inspection
Aleksandar Sascha Dinevski
Soufflage
Katja Weppler
Surtitle coordination
Sinikka Weber
Surtitle translation
Sinikka Weber
Surtitle manager
Raman Khalaf (Panthea)
Surtitle operators
Victoria Engler
Maya Scharf
Holly Werner
Show more
Show less

© Caroline Hepting

«Letztlich wird einem dieser «King Lear» als pittoreske, gewitzte und geglückte Inszenierung in Erinnerung bleiben.» NZZ

Newsletter Subscribe