Richard III.

Description

Shakespeare's Richard III., premiered around 1593, was one of the playwright's most successful texts even during his lifetime. To this day, the title character has not lost any of its fascination. Its allure lies precisely in its unrestrained, purpose-driven, and pleasurefully displayed amorality. Richard is the first in a series of villains in Shakespeare's work whose virtuoso manipulation skills fascinate. In the tradition of European theater history, Richard's physical 'disfigurement' became a symbol of moral decay. This equating of disability with malevolence has deeply ingrained itself in cultural memory and continues to influence perceptions of bodies that deviate from the norm. The production at RambaZamba Theater radically questions this attribution. Together with the author Antigone Akgün, Shakespeare's text is rewritten to portray Richard as a figure whose rise to power stems from experiences of exclusion, mockery, and structural ableism. Instead of appearing as a 'demonic tyrant,' Richard is depicted as someone who acquires the participation denied to him by all means—ruthless, flamboyant, relentless. Director Julia Wissert focuses on the political dimensions: Who has access to power? Who is allowed to be visible? And what violence does a society that constantly devalues its outsiders generate? The director Julia Wissert, known for her politically charged, discursive productions, develops a new text version with author Antigone Akgün that balances Shakespearean rhythm with contemporary exaggeration, making anger, wit, and resistance palpable in the dialogues. The diverse bodies and voices of the actors at RambaZamba Theater create a resonance space where norms and deviations are continually renegotiated. Funded by the Capital City Culture Fund and the Senate Department for Culture and Society.

Highlights

• Reinterpretation of Shakespeare's Richard III.
• Production at RambaZamba Theater
• Focused on themes such as power and exclusion

General Information

The production of Richard III. at RambaZamba Theater offers a radical re-evaluation of the classic character. Directed by Julia Wissert, the text is collaboratively revised with author Antigone Akgün to explore themes of power and social exclusion.

Location

Schönhauser Allee 36-39, 10435 Berlin, Germany

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