Lena Brasch's 'Romeo und Julia' at Schauspiel Hannover Reimagines Shakespeare as Generational Conflict

Lena Brasch directs a new production of Shakespeare's 'Romeo und Julia' at Schauspiel Hannover, transforming the tragedy into a generational conflict and incorporating elements from Hendrik Bolz, pop music, and contemporary hipness. The set, designed as a concrete Verona, features meter-high walls supported by red metal struts, sand piles, a stranded boat, and a narrow pool of toxic-green water at the center. The production opens with Romeo and Julia throwing themselves into the water, then repeatedly rising, placing their heads on each other's shoulders, and collapsing again. They drag their soaked bodies from the water and stand hand in hand at the edge while children's voices cover 'Der Traum ist aus' by Ton Steine Scherben. The director questions whether love is the problem or the adult world, framing the narrative as youth versus elders. The review notes that the most beautiful image may be the first, and criticizes an excess of hipness. The production runs at Schauspiel Hannover.