Jean Racine Phädra

New production

In a German translation by Simon Werle

Coproduction with the Burgtheater Wien

CREATIVE TEAM

Matthias Hartmann, Stage Director
Johannes Schütz, Set and Costume Design
Ismael Ivo, Choreography
Peter Bandl, Lighting
Thomas Felder, Sound
Andreas Erdmann, Dramaturgy

CAST

Paulus Manker, Theseus
Sunnyi Melles, Phaedra
Philipp Hauß, Hippolytus
Sylvie Rohrer, Aricia
Therese Affolter, Oenone
Hans-Michael Rehberg, Theramenes
Merle Wasmuth, Ismene
Brigitta Furgler, Panope

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Theseus, the legendary king of Troezen, has been missing for six months when his court receives the news of his death. Who is to succeed him? Hippolytus, his son from his first marriage, or the child of his second wife Phaedra? Or even Princess Aricia, an Athenian prisoner of war at Theseus’ court? During the short time when political power is up to be grasped, another power takes hold of the protagonists: Phaedra confesses her love for Hippolytus, who in turn reveals his forbidden love for Aricia. When Theseus returns unexpectedly, a tragic entanglement of guilt, confession, reason of state and desire runs its course.
Racine’s tragedy, written in 1677, is the work of a man with an unprecedented career. A habitué of the center of power, the court of Louis XIV, where betrayal and intrigue were par for the course, in this play he poses the question how virtue may be recognized. “Why are there no unmistakable signs / To recognize the hearts of traitors?” Theseus asks. They may only be recognized, Racine’s tragedy suggests, by the heart.

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