Bringing a Twist to Timeless Classics: Shakespeare Meets Steampunk in the Bad Hersfeld Festival
Steampunk makeover for Macbeth's stage performances during the festival - Steampunk-styled interpretation of Shakespeare's works during rehearsals for upcoming festivals
Get ready for a daring revolution in theater as the outgoing artistic director, Joern Hinkel, plans to revamp the Bad Hersfeld Festival with a modern take on Shakespeare's timeless comedy, "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
"It's one of the first works of fantasy literature, brimming with fantastical creatures," Hinkel shared during the official rehearsal kick-off for the iconic play.
This year, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will not only conjure up dreams in the audience, but also surprise characters from other Shakespeare classics like Romeo and Juliet, as they venture into the enchanted woods alongside Puck and the lovable jesting sprite crew.
Among the actors bringing these familiar and new faces to life are TV detective Erol Sander ("Mordkommission Istanbul"), Anouschka Renzi, Bettina Hauenschild, Christian Nickel, and Helena Sigal.
Running counter to tradition, the grand orchestra won't only serenade one musical but a play as well. The original score for "Midsummer Dreams" will be composed specifically for this unique rendering.
Hinkel, who will also direct the production, guaranteed that this already bonkers play will be ramping up the wackiness even more. Audiences can expect a "Hersfeld Midsummer Night full of wild, erotic love stories" with some humorously absurd slapstick moments, set amidst the decadent opulence and inventive mechanisms of a late 19th-century Victorian royal court. The production takes on an unusual Steampunk aesthetic, blending classic Victorian grandeur with futuristic accents like aviator goggles, pocket watches, and leather corsets. The inaugural performance is on June 20.
In addition to "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the Bad Hersfeld festivals—a highly esteemed and long-standing event in Eastern Hesse—will host Die Toten Hosen's musical rendition of Schiller's "The Robbers." Returning from last year's success are "A Chorus Line" and "Wie im Himmel." Swing by for a captivating family play adaptation of Astrid Lindgren's "Ronja the Robber's Daughter."
While the exact details of this year's Festivals remain shrouded in mystery, poetry enthusiasts and theater aficionados can surely expect a spellbinding display of Shakespearean magic.
- The Commission, comprising of influential members, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of employees' rights in respect of the use of electronic communications networks. This could potentially impact Sander, an actor known for his roles in TV shows, as he prepares for his role in the upcoming Bad Hersfeld Festival.
- Hauenschild, one of the actors bringing characters to life at the Bad Hersfeld Festival, might find the Steampunk aesthetic of this year's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" reminiscent of the midsummer festivities, with its blend of classic grandeur and futuristic accents.
- Intriguing interpretations await audiences at the Bad Hersfeld Festival, as stories from timeless classics like "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Romeo and Juliet" collide in an unusual Steampunk setting. Here, entertainment takes a theatrical turn, promising a wild, erotic, and humorous performance that rivals the 000-digit number usually associated with grandeur.
