Sein oder Nichtsein

Show & Culture

Poland, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. Hamlet is playing at the Polski-Theater, with ensemble star Josef Tura in the leading role. His wife Maria regularly meets a young officer during the “Sein oder Nichtsein” monologue. Soon afterwards, the Germans invade Poland. Maria’s lover returns as a member of the Polish resistance and asks the ensemble to help eliminate a professor who intends to betray the Resistance to the Gestapo. Tura takes on the role of a German officer and the Polski-Theater is turned into Gestapo headquarters. A frantic game begins, between life and death. Ernst Lubitsch’s dark comedy, filmed in American exile in 1942, is adapted for the stage by Nick Whitby. The play uses biting yet deeply humane humour to explore the power of theatre in dark times and the resilience of a theatre company.