Die Wand

The wall
after Marlen Haushofer
In a version by Dorothee Hartinger
A production of the Rottstr 5 Theater

With
Lea Kallmeier

Directed by
Alexander Ritter

Assistance
Franka Siegmund

Set Design
Alexander Ritter

Lighting
Simon Krämer

photos
Birgit Hupfeld

production
Alexander Ritter, Oliver Paolo Thomas

Trailer:
Siegersbusch Film, Wuppertal

Duration: approx. 60 minutes

"But, you know, the wall I'm talking about is actually a mental state that suddenly becomes visible on the outside." (Marlen Haushofer)

One morning in an idyllic, deserted mountain hut, a woman finds herself completely isolated from the rest of the world - separated by an invisible, impenetrable wall - like a pane of glass that seems to have appeared overnight and surrounds the valley on all sides.
Left to her own devices, with only a dog, "Lynx", and cut off from civilization, the city dweller is forced to fend for herself.
What remains of a person who lives in complete isolation - locked away in the wilderness? With this bold basic idea, Marlen Haushofer described the existential loneliness of modern man.

"Even then it seemed certain to me that the catastrophe was of enormous proportions. At the time, I resolved to cross out every day in the calendar, which seemed very important to me. I almost clung to the scant remnants of human order that I had left. Not that I'm afraid of becoming an animal, that wouldn't be so bad, but a person can never become an animal, they fall past the animal into an abyss. That's what I'm most afraid of."

"The Wall" was also successfully filmed in 2012 with Martina Gedeck in the leading role.

PRESS RATINGS

One of the most beautiful productions currently on Bochum's stages.
(Stadtspiegel)

Lea Kallmeier shines as the woman behind the eerie border.
(WAZ)

Frenetic applause at the premiere.
(Soester Anzeiger)

Making feelings ranging from the deepest despair to childlike joy directly - and physically - comprehensible: Director Alexander Ritter and actress Lea Kallmeier succeed in doing just that with their adaptation of Marlen Haushofer's novel "Die Wand" at the Theater unter den Gleisen. (...)
In general, this confrontation with existential loneliness is often anything but pleasant for the audience - and it has to be. Nevertheless, there is also something very comforting about this evening: after all, you can experience these extreme emotional states together with the other people in the audience - in times like these, this is anything but a matter of course. And all the more necessary.
With just a few props, an evening is created that you will probably not forget for the rest of your life.
(Stadtspiegel)

After the performance of the solo play, every pin that fell to the floor could have been heard, the frenetic, long applause erupted - like a release. After all, it was no light fare, full of atmospheric density and thematic gloom, which director Alexander Ritter and actress Lea Kallmeier brought to the stage.
(Soester Anzeiger)

Kallmeier's talent ran rampant and gave the well-known novel its expressive power.
(Soester Anzeiger)

Lea Kallmeier is trembling. Her hands tremble in front of her face. It is a day that seems devastating. The soliloquy becomes the only doubt.
(...) Lea Kallmeier, the leading actress, knows how to tell all these days in a captivating way, mostly directly, sometimes as a sonorous voice from the off, making thoughts audible. (...) Cello sounds frame her performance, which demands a lot from the audience emotionally, especially through her physical presence. Under the direction of Alexander Ritter, Lea Kallmeier brings mental states between loneliness, existential distress, longing for death and euphoria into view in a swirling, flowing and jerky manner. It makes it possible to experience the isolation of the individual from the outside world.
(WAZ)

The production also impresses with its reduction. Three floor spotlights cast unreal shadows on the player's face and on the barren walls. A few props round off the set: a chair, a bowl, a cloth, a candle, a pile of books. These are used to impressive effect.
(Soester Anzeiger)

The audience was moved and showed this to the solo performer after 70 minutes with hearty applause and standing ovations.
(WAZ)