Sankt Falstaff

by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV directed by Luise Voigt Dates
SANKT FALSTAFF von Ewald Palmetshofer frei nach Shakespeares King Henry IV
Duration 3 Hours, incl. interval
Premiere 24.1.26, Thalia Theater
Content Notes
Addressing classism; reproducing alcohol consumption and abuse, vomiting, fat-shaming, police violence, murder, drone flight on stage (not in the audience area); strobe lights, loud bass-heavy music
Digital booklet

Shakespeare for today – Austrian author Ewald Palmetshofer transports the royal drama Henry IV into our political present. 

His play Sankt Falstaff dissects the brutal world of a dying democracy. As a play of the moment, it uses comedy and linguistic wit to expose a power politics that attempts to make itself unassailable through lies and violence. The authoritarian quasi-king Heinz needs a successor. He is ill, and resistance is stirring among the electorate. Unfortunately, his son Harri falls in love with pub junkie Falstaff and explores the lower echelons of society with him – until the ambitious rival Percy appears. Only the holy fool Falstaff upholds humanity and holds up a mirror to society. 


It is directed by the visually striking director Luise Voigt, who has just been invited to the Theatertreffen.

 

  • #1/JOHN
  • #2/HARRI
  • #3/DER QUASI-KÖNIG
  • #4/DER VORSITZ/FRAU FLOTT
  • #5/DAS MUNDWERK
  • #6/DAS HIRN/ED
  • #7/HITZKOPF
  • #8/KATE/PUPPE
  • Flott´s Club
    • Shahab Ashrafi
    • Lotta Böckmann
    • Esther Browning
    • Krümmel Buehler
    • Delia Ihlau
    • Marc Jacobsen
    • Marek Kandel
    • Fee Noelle Kirk
    • Edda Maack
    • Julia Menk
    • Alexej Mirnyi
    • Artem Novikov
  • Drohne
    • Drohnenpilot Michael Genter
  • Regie
  • Bühne
  • Kostüme
  • Musik
    • Friederike Bernhardt
  • Choreografie
  • Lichtdesign
    • Jan Haas
  • Video
    • Stefan Bischoff
  • Dramaturgie

Dates

We 18.2.26
  • 19.30-22.30, Thalia Theater
    19.00 Introduction

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Tickets
    from 19 € / red. from 11 €
Sa 21.2.26
  • 19.30-22.30, Thalia Theater

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Subscription
    Tickets
    from 23 € / red. from 11 €
Th 5.3.26
  • 19.30-22.30, Thalia Theater

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Subscription
    Tickets
    from 19 € / red. from 11 €
Tu 10.3.26
  • 20.00-23.00, Thalia Theater
    19.30 Introduction

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Tickets
    from 19 € / red. from 11 €
Fr 10.4.26
  • 19.00-22.00, Thalia Theater

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Subscription
    Tickets
    from 23 € / red. from 11 €
Su 17.5.26
  • 15.00-18.00, Thalia Theater

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Subscription
    Tickets
    from 19 € / red. from 11 €
Mo 25.5.26
  • 19.00-22.00, Thalia Theater

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Subscription
    Tickets
    from 19 € / red. from 11 €
We 27.5.26
  • 20.00-23.00, Thalia Theater

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Subscription
    Tickets
    from 19 € / red. from 11 €
We 1.7.26
  • 19.30-22.30, Thalia Theater

    Sankt Falstaff
    by Ewald Palmetshofer, freely adapted from Shakespeare's King Henry IV
    directed by Luise Voigt
    Subscription
    Tickets
    from 19 € / red. from 11 €

Further dates are being planned.

Press quotes

  • Hamburger Abendblatt »Sankt Falstaff gilt zu Recht als ein Stück der Stunde. Das klug gedrechselte, mit viel Sprachwitz versehene Drama, spießt perfekt die Gegenwart auf. (...) Bildstarke Sinnesüberwältigung am Hamburger ...
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  • NDR »Diese brüchige Welt kann vielleicht nur ein John Falstaff retten. Er ist der Fehler im Getriebe der Autokratie, das liebevolle und queere Chaos, in einer zunehmend lebensfeindlichen Welt.«
  • FAZ »Ein Schwank, der sich die dramatische Diskrepanz zwischen oben und unten, mondschön und kneipendüster zu Herzen nimmt, aber dabei nicht in die klischeehaften Untiefen einer banalen Sozialshow abrutsc...
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  • nachtkritik »Stark ist dieser Hamburger "Sankt Falstaff", wo er über das Politische hinausweist. Was macht es mit Menschen, wenn ihnen Utopien und Hoffnungen abhandenkommen? Das fragt die Inszenierung mit großem ...
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