With sensational precision and brilliant dialogue, French author Yasmina Reza's comedy exposes how extremely thin the veneer of civilization really is. In this production, four people literally face off against each other on a battlefield. The audience experiences this up close in an extraordinary stage setting.

Two eleven-year-old boys got into a fight in the park: one hit the other with a stick, and the other lost almost two incisors. As civilized people, the parents want to discuss over coffee and cake how to proceed in an educationally sensible manner. But the joint dialogue between the opposing couples escalates. Which of the boys was really to blame? Does a child's violent behavior perhaps point to problems with the parents? How can the nighttime abandonment of a hamster, uncontrolled vomiting on valuable art books, or intrusive phone calls in defense of a health-threatening medication be interpreted in this context?

Subtle taunts turn into sharp verbal exchanges. New coalitions are formed, and supposedly clear role patterns begin to falter. From subtle threats to uncontrolled loss of face to uninhibited physical altercations—the range of what unfolds is broad. Can anyone still win, or will the god of carnage prevail?
Premiere April 17,
Further performances: April 19 and 29, May 3, 8, 16, and 22, 2026

www.hansottotheater.de