Don Karlos

In the organizer's words:

Don Karlos
by Friedrich Schiller

Spain in the 16th century: King Philip II rules with a heavy hand over a world empire riddled with intrigue and under the deadly control of the Inquisition. No one can be trusted, so the despot's suspicions are also directed at his own son Don Carlos. And rightly so, as the crown prince's secret love for his stepmother Elisabeth begins to shake the foundations of the kingdom. The prince's desire becomes part of a power struggle that inextricably links the private and the political.

Don Carlos' childhood friend the Marquis of Posa, who returns to court from the rebellious Dutch provinces, is caught up in these entanglements. He brings with him a vision of freedom and tolerance that harbors both hope and ruin. A web of betrayal, idealism and destructive passions develops between the powerful, leading the characters to the limits of their convictions and their humanity.

Schiller's "Don Karlos" is more than a historical drama: it is a flaming indictment of oppression and despotism and a plea for the ideals of the Enlightenment, which have lost none of their relevance to this day. In a world torn apart by the pursuit of power and the longing for justice, the play continues to pose existential questions: what does freedom mean and what price are we prepared to pay for it?

Further information & tickets can be found here.