King John (HU)

Friedrich DÜRRENMATT: King John

Hall: Main Hall studio arrangement
19:00

In Shakespeare's royal drama, under the pretext of portraying one of England’s most ruthless rulers, who places self-interest above all else, there is a veiled focus on the major issues and social tensions of his own time. In Dürrenmatt's grotesque adaptation, the characters represent ideals, ideologies, and interests; the play reveals a power structure and its mechanisms: behind the world-shaking dramatic events lie selfish motives, petty lust for power, and distorted ideologies. To twisted authority and its holders, the highest value—human life and humanity itself—means nothing, as they obsessively pursue their feverish goals. The drama serves as a stark parable of the Cold War era of the late 20th century.

The actions of those in power remain universal, with Cold War tensions inevitably leading to armed conflict—a theme reflected in the Tompa Miklós Company’s production. The ongoing war near us, constantly threatening escalation, lends the story a particular immediacy. Following An Enemy of the People, Attila Keresztes once again presents a sharp social critique in his latest direction, confronting audiences with the unchanging nature of social and political mechanisms and the horror of war. This confrontation is made even more brutal by how the comedic language and devices in the play turn into dramatic relevance, emphasizing the unpredictability of power struggles and our vulnerability in the face of them.