Tonight the Bürger:Bühne production of "Peer Gynt" celebrates its premiere at the Kleines Haus of the Staatsschauspiel Dresden, opening the current season.
"King, Emperor I shall become!" declares Peer Gynt. He lives in poor circumstances and is treated as an outsider. So Peer dreams himself into other worlds. In his tall tales he lives through wild adventures and finally attains great wealth. Indeed, the young daredevil soon manages to cast a spell over those around him. He abducts a bride unwilling to marry, charms a troll princess and travels to distant lands. But does the self he has created truly make him happy?
For some years now, young people in particular have seized the chance to present themselves to the world on social media. In the anonymity of the internet they can claim to be whoever they wish, can flee reality just as Peer Gynt does. Together with young people from Dresden, Joanna Praml sets off on a journey into that parallel world to explore the dangers and possibilities that digital selves hold.
But who gets to play whom here? Who will be Peer Gynt? That is fought out at the start, and Anton Petzold is of course right in the middle of it — and we are (entirely impartially, naturally) firmly convinced that he will convince.
Further performances currently: 20 September and 24 October 2023.
Peer Gynt — a Bürger:Bühne production after Henrik Ibsen in a version by Joanna Praml and Dorle Trachternach
Director: Joanna Praml