Krieg und Frieden

This adaptation from Leipzig follows neither the rampant trend for Reader’s Digest renditions nor the discursive method of breaking up material in the style of Frank Castorf. Instead of presenting linear plots, it is structured by motifs, condensing recurrent topoi into essential scenes with strong images, and it is only logical that they end up dealing with the ultimate issues. “I”, “Death” or “Faith” are appropriately complex titles of some units of meaning from this five-hour performance, which takes place on a highly symbolic, tilting and lifting stage platform. The actors take an increasingly direct line towards the present, without conspicuously displaying this course. Template-like products for giving meaning become increasingly prone to decay. In this, the production is as consistent as in the waiver of a clear assignment of characters: Big universal questions, as we all know, befall the human species regardless of age and gender.

www.centraltheater-leipzig.de / www.ruhrfestspiele.de