An Inside Look: Wer hat Angst vor Virginia Woolf in Hamburg
Last week, Theatre Trip had the chance to see Wer hat Angst vor Virginia Woolf? (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) in Hamburg, Germany! This was my first time ever seeing the play, and it also happened to be in German, which is my second language. And speaking of that, I would definitely say that seeing a show in a foreign language is an experience worth adding to your bucket list!
* Deutsches Schauspielhaus is recommended by Theatre Trip, so we’re awarding them a ⭐!
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Our experience at Wer hat Angst vor Virginia Woolf?:
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Wer Hat Angst vor Virginia Woolf?, by Edward Albee, it’s a play that shines a light on the complexities of marriage. The story takes place over one long evening, and it follows George and Martha as they come home from a faculty party. From there, Martha lets George know that she has invited a younger couple to come over for a drink. And that’s where things get interesting.
In this production at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg, the two couples are played by Josefine Israel, Matti Krause, Maria Schrader, and Devid Striesow. And the chemistry between these four was undeniable! As the story unfolds, one drink turns to many, which leads to a string of not-so-great decisions. It’s hard to highlight a single actor that stole the show, as all four of them just lived and breathed their roles for the duration of the night.
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One of my favorite things about this play is that it sheds the illusion of perfect relationships, and it opens the door to an intimate space. And Karin Beier, the show’s director, was not afraid to explore that vulnerability. She directed this piece beautifully and honestly. And although there is an undeniable darkness to the piece, there were so many wonderfully unexpected bursts of wild humor sprinkled throughout.
So what exactly does this night of drinking lead to? Brokenness, heartbreak, provocation, acceptance, forgiveness… I won’t say much else about where the night goes just in case the play is new for you. But I will say that this is absolutely a great production to catch. Just be prepared to experience a whole range of emotions as your attachment for these four grows.
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* The featured image is by Arno Declair.
* A special thanks to Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg for inviting us to the show!
Have you seen or read Wer hat Angst vor Virginia Woolf?
Or have you ever seen a play in a language other than your first? Let us know in the comments below! And in the meantime, you can always check out our past theatre visits for some insight on what’s going on in theaters around the world!
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Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.