König Lear

But now it's really enough with the rule of the old white man! Let the youngsters have a go, preferably young women! - That's what the king himself thinks. Now it's time to sort out the estate, sort out the fair distribution among the three daughters and retire from politics with dignity. Unfortunately, letting go of power is not quite so easy. When the flattering declaration of love from the youngest and most beloved daughter is not delivered as desired, he disinherits her without further ado. In the face of his dwindling authority, Lear is overcome by the urge to set fire to everything around him and reduce it to rubble, relying on obvious hypocrites until he has nothing left. Old age? Panic? Delusions of grandeur? Incipient dementia? A helpless clinging to his beloved rulership? Apparently a weakness that doesn't just affect him, because Count Gloucester, once his confidant, is also backing the wrong child and is unable to exit the game of power gracefully.

Why is it so difficult to let go? Who is responsible for the inheritance? And what conditions should be placed on those who follow? "You shouldn't have been old until you were wise!" sums up the Fool, Lear's last companion on the stormy heath.

Jan Bosse is an experienced Shakespeare director. He was invited to the Berlin Theatertreffen with "Hamlet" and "Much Ado About Nothing". He staged "Was ihr wollt" at the Thalia Theater, "Othello" at the Burgtheater, "Richard III" in Frankfurt and "Falstaff" in Cologne.

Duration 2.30h, without intermission

Premiere April 2, 2023, Thalia Theater