FAUST 1+2+3 at the Hans Otto Theater: Goethe's classic unleashed
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FAUST 1+2+3: Goethe's classic as a wild ride through the present
On December 4, 2026, the riding hall of the Hans Otto Theater in Potsdam transforms into a stage between the thirst for knowledge, intoxication, and existential crisis. FAUST 1+2+3 by Felix Krakau, based on and with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, brings the classic of German literature to the stage with speed, wit, and contemporary storytelling flair.
A universal scholar seeks the ultimate thrill
Faust is in a crisis. Knowledge and learning lose their shine, life seems empty, and the search for intensity becomes the all-determining drive. He meets Mephisto, a devilish seducer who promises pure feeling and endless fun. The price: Faust's soul.
The production by Michael Böhnisch relies on a contemporary, compressed dramaturgy. Auerbach's cellar, Walpurgis Night, and the famous encounter with Gretchen appear as stations of an intoxicating stage experience. Literary history, pop culture, and current debates merge into a theater evening that charges Goethe's questions with new energy.
Between ecstasy, love, and catastrophe
The stage journey takes Faust and Mephisto through time and space, through logic and magic, heaven and hell. Ever higher, faster, further drives the production its protagonists – until Gretchen enters his life and the world stands still for a moment.
From this encounter develops the Gretchen tragedy: Faust experiences the peak of his longing, while Gretchen falls into a catastrophe that knows no simple winners. The direction does not turn the famous material into a museum-like classic reference, but a moving contemporary theater about desire, overconfidence, and the question of the meaning of life.
Set design, costumes, and music as driving forces
Dorit Lievenbrück is responsible for the set and costumes. Fabian Simon composes the music, and Sina Katharina Flubacher takes on the dramaturgy. Together, they create a theatrical atmosphere in which acting, rhythm, and visual signs condense the Faust material.
On stage are Henk Buchholz, Philipp Mauritz, Ronni Rath, Mia Rainprechter, and Ingraban von Stolzmann. The production connects great literary motifs with physical presence, musical impulse, and spirited playfulness. Thus, Goethe's long-term project becomes an immediate stage experience for an audience that wants to rediscover classics.
A classic with contemporary sparks
Felix Krakau tells Faust in a compressed, rapid, and seductive manner. The award-winning author circles around timeless questions: What is worth getting up for? How much intensity can a life withstand? And what happens when the desire for limitless experience suppresses all responsibility?
The source material was already acknowledged as a strong piece of contemporary theater upon its premiere. In Potsdam, under the direction of Michael Böhnisch, it receives its own stage handwriting and becomes a play about self-image, worldview interpretation, and the allure of limitless more.
Conclusion: Experience Faust live in Potsdam
The audience can expect an energizing theater experience between classic, pop culture, and contemporary production. FAUST 1+2+3 promises big questions, quick scene changes, and acting that brings Goethe's figures directly from the literary monument into the present. Those who want to experience the Faust material as a bubbling, sensual, and surprisingly contemporary stage journey should not miss this evening in the riding hall.
Official channels of Hans Otto Theater:
- Website: https://www.hansottotheater.de/
