PHÄDRA, IN FLAMMEN

About the show

A deceptive stillness hangs over Athens. The aging King Theseus has recently announced—once again—his intention to step down from power, yet his words have yet to be followed by action. Queen Phaedra feels like a prisoner of her own life, trapped within the stifling intellectual, formal, and moral structures of the royal court. Meanwhile, a fierce struggle for influence is unfolding behind the scenes. Demophon, the firstborn son of the royal couple, has been designated as the heir to the throne; his marriage to Persea has already been arranged to further stabilize the political landscape and facilitate the transfer of power. But rather than resigning herself to her fate, Persea takes an unyielding stand that destabilizes both the political order and the personal lives of those around her. Author Nino Haratischwili weaves motifs from the ancient myth of the legendary Queen Phaedra together with contemporary questions surrounding sexuality, emancipation, and power politics. Her play depicts a system in flux, where progressive thought and regressive forces vie for the power to define the status quo. Director Max Lindemann’s approach is marked by a strong sense of musicality, brought to life through specially composed soundscapes. In his staging, he places the characters’ vacillation between personal desire and political ambition at the very heart of the drama.