An explosion of power and desire, a delirious celebration of evil—
Following his acclaimed Hamlet,
Thomas Ostermeier reinvents another Shakespearean masterpiece.
Starring Lars Eidinger in
the most devastating Richard III in three centuries.
Step into the eye of the political storm,
and surrender to the irresistible allure of pure evil.

 

 

This is a truly spectacular production, unlike any other.
Jamie Wright, Adelaide Theatre Guide

Director Thomas Ostermeier is one of the great modern innovators of the classics of theatre, and it is the constant flow of original ideas that make his works so worthwhile.
Tim Lloyd, The Advertiser

[Eidinger] takes his character's autistic ambition seriously in every second and offers a performance that is unparalleled in its unaffected naturalness: a theatre event with an announcement.
André Mumot, Deutschlandradio Kultur

 

 

Schaubühne Berlin’s Richard III, directed by Thomas Ostermeier and starring Lars Eidinger, reinvents Shakespeare’s infamous king of ambition with stark aesthetics and explosive physicality. Featuring a bold prose translation, the production strips away classical formality for razor-sharp, contemporary impact. Eidinger becomes Richard—intense, magnetic, and disturbingly intimate with the audience. More than a Shakespearean drama, this is a visceral political parable about power, manipulation, and the darkness within.

 

Richard III is one of William Shakespeare's earliest works, first performed around 1593. Yet to this day, the charisma of the play's protagonist remains undiminished. Richard seized the throne through murder and deception, at the end, overthrown by rebel forces. In the depths of his slumber, his tormented conscience shows as a nightmare interrogating not merely the fallen king, but through the theatrical medium, confronts us all. The fundamental conflict between desire and morality, the disequilibrium between personal identity and public persona - these existential tensions that destroyed Richard, also mirror the existential crises every person must ultimately confront.

 

 

 

Richard is hideous. Born prematurely, he is a deformed, hobbling, hunchbacked cripple who, on the battlefields of the Wars of the Roses – which flared up after the death of Henry V – served his family and above all his brother, Edward, well. Now Edward is king, thanks to a number of murders carried out on his crippled brother’s own initiative. But the end of war brings Richard no peace. His hatred for the rest of the world, to which he will never belong, lies too deep. And so he does what he does best and kills some more, clearing away every obstacle that lies in his path to becoming king. If fate prevents him from being part of a society of those blessed by good fortune, he will at least lord over them. He plays off his rivals against each other with political cunning, unscrupulously exploits the ambitions of others for his own ends and strides spotless through an immense bloodbath until there is no one left above him and the crown is his. But even this triumph, purchased with the death of enemies, allies and relatives alike, still fails to heal the great insult nature has visited upon him. Alone at the apex of the English kingdom, deprived of all his adversaries, he now turns his rage on his true nemesis – himself.

 

Thomas Ostermeier was born in 1968 in Soltau. From 1992-96 he studied directing at the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst »Ernst Busch«, Berlin. From 1996-99 Ostermeier was Artistic Director of the Baracke at the Deutsches Theater, Berlin. In 1998 the Baracke was nominated »Theatre of the Year«. Since September 1999 Ostermeier is resident director and member of the Artistic Direction of the Schaubühne. At the Edinburgh Festival: »The Girl on the Sofa« by Jon Fosse, 2002 (awarded with the »Herald Angel Award«) In November 2004 Ostermeier was appointed »artiste associé« for the Festival d’Avignon by the artistic director of the festival, Vincent Baudriller, and has been presenting shows at the Festival regularly since then. In 2011 Thomas Ostermeier received the Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale for the entirety of his work. Thomas Ostermeier’s theatre productions continue to challenge his audience’s ideas and expectations of canonical classics. His engaged, living, critical, and generous theatre is just as concerned with the role of the individual within society as with great timeless questions.

 

 

MAIN ACTOR: Lars Eidinger
Lars Eidinger, a member of the Schaubühne ensemble since 1999. Born in Berlin. Studied engagement at the Deutsches Theater Berlin, including collaboration with Jürgen Gosch. Numerous appearances in international film and television productions including in »Everyone Else« (2009, directed by Maren Ade), »Clouds of Sils Maria« (2014, directed by Olivier Assayas) and »White Noise« (2022, directed by Noah Baumbach). Works as a director, musician, photographer and DJ (at the »Anti Disco« parties). Took the role of »Jedermann« (Everyman) at the Salzburg Festival in 2021/22. Accolades: Best Actor at both the 2012 German Film Critics Association Awards and the 2014 Grimme Awards, Best Male Lead at the 2018 Austrian Film Awards.

 

The Schaubühne Berlin was founded in 1962 and is nowadays one of the most famous and renowned theatres in the German speaking area. Since 1999 it has been led by artistic director Thomas Ostermeier. As one of Berlin's five largest ensemble and repertory theatres, it stands for modern, contemporary theatre. The Schaubühne Berlin premieres a minimum of ten shows per season alongside a repertoire of about 30 existing productions. The repertoire is characterised by a critical and analytical, often political view of social reality and encompasses both classical and contemporary plays. The permanent ensemble includes the actors Lars Eidinger, Caroline Peters, Joachim Meyerhoff and Ursina Lardi, among others. International exchange is essential to the work of the Schaubühne Berlin. The theatre frequently offers a platform to notable directors from abroad. At the same time, the Schaubühne Berlin showcases its productions abroad in over 100 performances every year.

 

Production: Schaubühne Berlin
By: William Shakespeare
German translation: Marius von Mayenburg

Director: Thomas Ostermeier
Stage Design: Jan Pappelbaum
Costume Design: Florence von Gerkan
Collaboration Costumes: Ralf Tristan Sczesny
Music: Nils Ostendorf
Video: Sébastien Dupouey
Dramaturgy: Florian Borchmeyer

Lighting Design: Erich Schneider
Puppeteers Training: Susanne Claus, Dorothee Metz
Doll Making: Ingo Mewes, Karin Tiefensee
Fight Choreography: René Lay

© Arno Declair