Burning – Studio Premiere at the Theater Hof

Burning at the Theater Hof: A search for traces that goes under the skin

A final wish, two letters, and a journey into the past: Wajdi Mouawad's drama Burning unfolds a gripping stage experience in the studio of the Theater Hof about origin, memory, and responsibility. In a German translation by Uli Menke, the production guides the audience with precise acting skills and dense theatrical atmosphere into the emotional hotspots of a family scarred by civil war.

Family secrets in the spotlight

With the quiet urgency of a notary's letter, an odyssey begins: The twins Jeanne and Simon follow the request of their deceased mother Nawal to find their believed-to-be-dead father and an unknown brother. The dramaturgy connects present scenes with flashbacks, so layers of memory are uncovered like glowing coals. Each scene sharpens the view on the search for truth and identity.

Direction with a pulsing heartbeat

The direction shapes clear, suggestive images: precise transitions, breathtaking pauses, then eruptive outbursts. The ensemble portrays multifaceted characters – between tenderness, anger, and the weight of unprocessed history. Acoustic accents and a breathing light atmosphere intensify the tension; the stage design works with reduced, movable elements that fold and unfold like memory spaces.

Between Lebanon and Europe: Theater as memory

Burning – in the original Incendies – is part of Mouawad's cycle on origin and trauma. The play links personal biography with collective history of violence. The production in Hof makes this thread tangible: From silence comes language, from fragments arises history, and the audience's reaction feeds off silent dismay and the realization of a universal tragedy.

Studio format with closeness

In the studio of the Theater Hof (99 seats), a special intimacy is created: short distances, concentrated acoustics, immediate play. Every gesture carries weight – the audience sits in the heartbeat of the scene. A work introduction 45 minutes before the start opens additional perspectives on text, directorial style, and context.

Conclusion

Those seeking great acting in a concentrated space experience an intense theater experience here: smartly told, clearly directed, emotionally compelling. Burning raises important questions about truth, origin, and responsibility – and invites audiences to negotiate them live in the Theater Hof.

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Sources:

• Theater Hof – Burning (Play Page)
• Theater Hof – The House, Capacity and Accessibility
• Plateforme – Play info Burning (German, Translation by Uli Menke)
• Theaterkompass – Burning, Background and Reception
• Wikipedia (EN) – Incendies, Premiere and Context
• Freiheitshalle Hof – Arrival and Parking (opposite Theater Hof)