MICHAEL KOHLHAAS
by Heinrich von Kleist
Stage adaptation by Jonathan Giele and Marc-Philipp Kochendörfer

A man, two horses, and an unwavering belief in justice - Michael Kohlhaas, a horse trader, family man, and devout believer, is a man of order in a world of arbitrariness. What begins as a minor abuse of power - an unjustified customs duty and two mistreated horses - escalates into a conflagration.

Deeply wounded in his honor and sense of justice, Kohlhaas seeks reparation. But what is one to do when the state fails and the law is merely a plaything in the hands of the powerful? Kleist's famous novella unfolds like a dark ride through the abysses of morality and power. Kohlhaas ignites cities, murders, and loses himself in his relentless pursuit of justice. Is he a hero or a terrorist? A visionary or a madman? Amidst the struggle between right and wrong, order and anarchy, 'Michael Kohlhaas' confronts the question of what remains of a person when the last shred of dignity is taken away.

A lesson on the violence of principles - and the principles of violence.

Direction: Jochen Schölch
Stage Design: Thomas Flach
Costumes: Stephanie Krey
Video/Sound: Martin Hermann
Lighting: Thomas Flach/Martin Hermann
Featuring: Marc-Philipp Kochendörfer
Duration: Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes (no intermission)

The Metropoltheater is supported by the Cultural Department of the City of Munich.