Emil und die Detektive

In the organizer's words:

Emil and the Detectives - by Erich Kästner - children's and family play - ages 6 and up - premiere on November 17, 2024 - Schauspielhaus, Großes Haus - Schauspiel, Junges Schauspiel

The children's and family play at Christmas time in the Großes Haus has now become a tradition. Experience "Emil and the Detectives" by Erich Kästner in the 2024/25 season. The premiere of the children's book classic directed by Robert Gerloff is on November 17. Advance tickets are on sale.

On the train from Neustadt to Berlin, schoolboy Emil Tischbein is robbed by an unknown gentleman in a stiff hat. The 140 marks, which Emil's single mother has saved up for a long time and which the boy attaches to the lining of his suit with a pin, are supposed to be given to his grandmother. But nothing comes of it for the time being. Once in Berlin, Emil pursues the perpetrator to a café on Kaiserallee. He takes cover behind an advertising pillar and wonders what to do. Then a horn sounds. Emil is startled. It's Gustav, a Berliner of the same age, who is soon ready to round up other children to help him. Together they want to experience a movie-like adventure and take on the thief's bastard on their own.

As Erich Kästner makes a group of children the main characters, "Emil and the Detectives" is considered the first modern children's book. To this day, the classic from 1929 captivates with its wit, coolness and an exciting story which, despite all its lightness, never loses sight of the social reality of its characters. Director Robert Gerloff will bring Kästner's novel to the stage with his characteristic mixture of wit and pace. At the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, he recently staged "Death of a Salesman", "The Servant of Two Masters" and "Spoilsport".