Don Karlos

In the organizer's words:

A dramatic poem by Friedrich Schiller

Don Carlos is not just a political idea play about despotism, conspiracy or a deadly love story, but in the end primarily the dilemma of an idealist. Don Carlos' drama is that he loves his stepmother Elisabeth, who was once his fiancée but is now his father's wife. The drama of his father Philip is that he is completely alone in his political power. For those who love him could betray him and those who advise him could betray him - a fear he also shares with other characters. Posa's drama is that he cannot be a servant of power, because he represents the idea of freedom and equality. The staged intrigue for power begins.

Schiller's dramatic poem about people trapped in rigid power structures was first performed in Hamburg in 1787 - two years before the great social upheaval, the French Revolution. The criticism of power inscribed in the text shows the dangers that arise when ideals become pure ideology. Posa's exclamation: "Give freedom of thought" echoes forever as a warning.

Director Julia Hölscher questions Don Karlos from today's perspective. How do we view Schiller's idealistic tragedy with its rigid power structures? Why do more and more people in the so-called free world think that life under authoritarian rule would be tempting? Don Karlos can be a reminder of what strong restrictions can mean for a society and promotes the need to fight for the preservation of democracy and to continue to do so.

Hölscher's work, carried by ensemble playing and poetic condensation, is characterized by great musicality. She was in-house director at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden, the Residenztheater Munich and the Theater Basel. Don Karlos is her first directorial work for the Staatstheater Kassel.