Berliner Ensemble Stages «Antigone» and «Der Hauptmann von Köpenick» Under Castorf's «Mephisto» Banner

Two productions currently occupy the Berliner Ensemble programme, both deliberately avoiding direct social or political commentary. Instead, they rely on the strength of their role-play and acting craft. The staging of «Antigone» and «Der Hauptmann von Köpenick» is presented under the heading of «Mephisto» by Castorf, a reference that frames the evening's theatrical approach. The productions are described as grand theatre and grand actor's theatre, with their impact stemming from performative brilliance rather than explicit contemporary parallels. No specific dates, cast members, or further production details are provided in the source material. The article, published by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, reviews these Berliner Ensemble offerings, noting that the absence of overt political or social cross-references allows the acting performances to take centre stage. The review's title, «Mephisto» von Castorf: Der Mensch wankt, wenn die Macht winkt, suggests a thematic focus on human wavering in the face of power, though the text does not elaborate on this connection. The piece is filed under the theatre section of the NZZ Feuilleton.