by Benjamín Labatut
translated from the English by Thomas Brovot
adapted for the stage by Calixto Bieito
in collaboration with Adrià Bieito Cami
DIRECTED BY: Calixto Bieito
PFAUEN
WORLD PREMIERE: 08.05.2026
1 hour 30 minutes (no interval)
"In 1997, the computer surpassed humans in chess for the first time."
At the close of the 20th century, rapid advancements in science and technology culminated in a duel between man and machine. The human creation began to exceed humanity itself. Behind this achievement lie the dreams and nightmares of the last century, whose effects reverberate into the present.
In his brilliant novel, Chilean author Benjamín Labatut traces extraordinary individuals who dedicated their lives to the inexplicable depths of mathematics and logic, and who laid the foundation for our technology-infused present. At the heart of the narrative is the mathematician John von Neumann, inventor of game theory, co-developer of the atomic bomb, and a visionary for artificial intelligence – "an alien among us." Yet, even Neumann ultimately grapples with his own mundane mortality. Humanity cannot be driven out of man. Labatut's masterful montage of facts and fiction leads us on the trail of people whose visionary thinking crosses paths with both rationality and irrationality.
A work by Benjamín Labatut is being brought to the stage for the first time at the Schauspielhaus. Labatut's writing finds its ideal theatrical translation in Calixto Bieito's impressive dedication to the performing arts and their language. With his sharp sense for contemporary literature, the Spanish director adapts the novel for its world premiere at the Pfauen stage. Bieito, known for his uncompromising explorations of humanity and its abysses, negotiates the history of our technologized world on the analog stage – where it originated: among people.
SENSORY NOTE
This production uses fog, primarily at the beginning of the performance.
CONTENT NOTE
This production contains two depictions of death from cancer and descriptions of suicide.
The performance will be followed by a talk featuring Jennifer Victoria Scurrell (Researcher — Human-AI Interaction & Responsible AI) and Nina Rühmeier (Dramaturg, Schauspielhaus Zürich).
Karl-Heinz Klein
