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Shakespeare in Exile: A Modern Game of Identity in Wiesbaden!
Premiere of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" on June 25, 2025 at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden directed by Nurkan Erpulat.
Shakespeare in Exile: A Modern Game of Identity in Wiesbaden!
On June 25, 2025, the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden will celebrate the premiere of “As You Like It,” a spectacular production directed by Nurkan Erpulat, who is known for his innovative approach to classical material. This Shakespeare comedy is presented in a minimalist set by Gitti Scherer, while the costumes are by Aleksandra Kica. The musical direction is by Michael Haves and the lighting design is by Steffen Hilbricht, with dramaturgy by Cosma and Corona Hahne. How nachtkritik.de reports, the piece addresses social role play and identity in a humorous way.
Erpulat, who was born in Ankara and studied at the Ernst Busch Academy for Drama in Berlin, brings his vast experience from previous projects. With pieces like “Beyond – Are you gay or are you a Turk?” he has already raised social questions and now in “As You Like It” he touches on conflicts surrounding identity, expulsion and escape. Sybille Weiser's prologue sets an ironic tone and deals with identity confusion, particularly through crossdressing. This is a characteristic feature of Erpulat's work, with which he presents profound topics in an entertaining form. More about him and his previous work can be found on the Gorky Theater website to find.
The characters and their conflicts
In the production, Orlando, played by Lennart Preining, is expelled from his home and flees under pressure from Duke Frederick, played by Lasse Boje Haye Weber. Rosalinde, played by Klara Wördemann, follows her lover into exile. There she disguises herself as a man, tests Orlando's love and thus turns gender conventions on their head. The piece uses exaggeration and humor to illuminate gender and class stereotypes and shows exile as a space of freedom where social constraints can be overcome.
The production lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes without an intermission and brings Rosalinde and Orlando together at the end, which brings the fluid boundaries between the genders to the fore. This approach corresponds to a trend in modern Shakespeare interpretation that reflects gender and sexuality in novel ways. As in Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare described, these topics play a central role in the current theater landscape.
As You Like It promises to be an evening of romantic confusion tolerance, with Erpulat's signature style both thought-provoking and entertaining. Theater enthusiasts can look forward to a captivating performance that combines classic themes with contemporary issues.