Sankt Falstaff (Saint Falstaff)

by Ewald Palmetshofer freely adapted after Shakespeare’s «King Henry IV»
Residenztheater, 19.00 o'clock
Wed 25 Jun
18.30 Introduction
Residenztheater, 19.00 o'clock
Fri 11 Jul
Residenztheater, 19.00 o'clock
Thu 24 Jul
Further dates follow
SANKT FALSTAFF (SAINT FALSTAFF)
by Ewald Palmetshofer freely adapted after Shakespeare’s «King Henry IV»
World Premiere/Commissioned Work
Premiere 22. January 2025
Residenztheater
3 Hours 15 Minutes
1 Break

Content description

Linguistically polished and translated with resistant wit, the Austrian playwright Ewald Palmetshofer brings Shakespeare’s royal drama «King Henry IV» into the present day of eroding democracies.

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The coup has worked. Like a would-be king, Heinrich rules the country. But he is ageing and there is no suitable successor in sight. In the shadows of this stumbling administation, Frau Flott’s container pub business is booming. Here John, an imposing figure in every sense of the word, and his close friend Harri party all night – an odd couple with a shared taste for sharp-tongued wit and large quantities of beer. When Harri suddenly receives an immoral proposal from the centre of power, it casts a new light not only on the future of the state, but also John’s friendship with Harri.
With linguistic panache and broad comedy the Austrian playwright Ewald Palmetshofer transposes Shakespeare’s history play, a suprising combination of royal drama and comedy, into the present day of eroding democracies. In his rewriting of politics, he drives the comedy out of the play until the autocracy loses its laughter.

Trailer

Artistic Direction

Stage Design Daniel Wollenzin
Costume Design Claudia Irro
Lighting Verena Mayr
Dramaturgy Constanze Kargl