Shakespeare in exile: a modern game of identity in Wiesbaden!

Shakespeare in exile: a modern game of identity in Wiesbaden!

Wiesbaden, Deutschland - On June 25, 2025, the Hessian State Theater Wiesbaden celebrates the premiere of "How you like it", a spectacular staging directed by Nurkan Erpulat, which is known for its innovative approach to classic substances. This Shakespeare comedy is presented in a minimalist set design by Gitti Scherer, while the costumes of Aleksandra Kica come. The musical direction takes over Michael Haves and the lighting design designs Steffen Hilbricht, with dramaturgy by Cosma and Corona Hahne. How Nachtkritik.de reports, addresses the piece of social role -playing games and identity in a humorous way.

Erpulat, who was born in Ankara and studied at the Ernst Busch Academy for acting in Berlin, brings his great experience from previous projects. With pieces like "beyond - are you gay or are you Turk?" He has already raised social questions and now touches conflicts about identity, displacement and escape in "How you like it". Sybille Weiser's prologue sets an ironic tone and treats identity confusion, especially through crossdressing. This is a characteristic feature of Erpulat's work with which he presents in -depth topics in an entertaining form. More about him and his previous work is on the of the Gorki Theater to be found.

the characters and their conflicts

In the staging, Orlando, played by Lennart Preining, is driven out of his home and flees under the pressure of Duke Frederick, represented by Lasse Boje Haye Weber. Rosalinde, embodied by Klara Wördemann, follows her lover into exile. There she disguises herself as a man, tests Orlando's love and thus turns the sexual conventions upside down. The piece uses exaggerations and humor to illuminate gender and class clichés, and shows exile as a space of freedom where social constraints can be overcome.

The staging takes 2 hours and 15 minutes without a break and at the end brings Rosalinde and Orlando together, which puts the flowing boundaries between the sexes in the foreground. This approach corresponds to a trend in the modern Shakespeare interpretation, which reflects gender and sexuality in a new way. As in cambridge companion to Shakespeare described, these topics play a central role in the current theater landscape.

"As you like it" promises to become an evening full of romantic confusion, with Erpulat's unmistakable style, which stimulates both thinking and maintains. Theater enthusiasts can look forward to a captivating performance that combines classic topics with contemporary questions.