
International Theatre Database
2015.05.03
D'haus Central
E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 psychological tale forms the basis for this theatrical adaptation, which reimagines the author's exploration of childhood trauma and psychological dissolution. The narrative begins with a formative tragedy: a young boy named Nathanael witnesses his father's death in an alchemical experiment and becomes convinced of a connection to the Sandman of folklore—a malevolent figure said to scatter sand in the eyes of sleepless children until they bleed. Director Robert Wilson and composer Anna Calvi transform this gothic source material into a multimedia work combining precise stagecraft, evocative lighting design, and dramatic rock music. The production employs theatrical illusion and stylized movement to blur boundaries between psychological reality and delusion, exploring how early trauma can reshape perception and identity throughout a person's life.
Janine Ortiz
Co-Author/Adaptor, Dramaturg
Robert Wilson
Director, Set Designer, Lighting Designer
Ann-Christin Rommen
Associate Director
Zuzana Leherova
Composer
Axel Lindner
Composer
Annette Maye
Composer
Andreas Steffens
Composer
Nathan Bontrager
Composer
Leonhard Bartussek
Composer
Ella Rohwer
Composer
Tim Dudek
Composer
Ralf Gessler
Composer
Bernd Keul
Composer
Nico Brandenburg
Composer
Achim Fink
Composer
Nicolao Valiensi
Composer