At Munich's Residenztheater, the ancient myth is transformed into a highly topical political drama. In "Oedipus" after Sophocles, reinterpreted by British director and playwright Robert Icke, the boundaries between family tragedy and political thriller become blurred. In a world of election campaign strategies, media staging, and hidden power interests, the classic material is transferred to a present in which truth itself becomes a contested commodity. The translation from English by Christina Schlögl brings the linguistic precision and dynamism of Icke's modern theater aesthetics to the stage.
Oedipus is on the verge of political triumph. As the charismatic frontrunner of a new movement, he embodies hope, change, and social transformation. But behind the shiny facade of his campaign headquarters, cracks are beginning to show. As the final hours before the election results are announced tick away, figures from his past appear and bring to light a web of secrets, manipulation, and unresolved questions. In particular, the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of his political predecessor and rumors about his own origins increasingly drive Oedipus into a maelstrom of mistrust and existential uncertainty. Icke portrays Oedipus as a modern power-hungry figure who acts not out of pride, but out of a deep need for truth. But every answer leads to new questions. When his mother Merope unexpectedly appears and demands a confidential conversation, the family structure itself becomes a political playing field. At the same time, fake news about Oedipus' origins plays with identity, public perception, and political credibility. The question of truth becomes a central moral and social challenge—a topic that seems particularly relevant in times of media overload. The director thus continues his radical reinterpretation of classical material and shows how ancient tragedies can reflect today's social conflicts. As in his successful Schnitzler adaptation "Die Ärztin" (The Doctor), Icke combines psychological tension with political analysis. The play reveals the existential horror behind apparent stability: that personal and social constructs can collapse at any time. The production at the Residenztheater thus becomes a multi-layered mirror of our present – emotional, political, and deeply human.
Premiere: April 24, 2026
Additional dates: April 26 and 29, 2026
www.residenztheater.de
