Futuristic theater premiere: he cleans for amazement in Wiesbaden!

Futuristic theater premiere: he cleans for amazement in Wiesbaden!

On January 19, 2025, the Wiesbaden Staatstheater celebrated the premiere of the "He cleans" staging under the direction of Marie Schleef. The staging is based on the award-winning text by Valeria Gordeev, who received the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize for her work in 2023. In her text, Gordeev deals with the topic of dirt and striving to create order in a chaotic world.

The performance focuses on the main character Konstantin, played by two actors, Adi Hrustemović and Jonas Grundner-Culemann. Konstantin has the task of taking care of his little sister Lada while the mother is absent. In this meticulous and passionate cleaning campaign, Konstantin reflects on his motives, be it as a contemplative employment, obsessive action or an attempt to organize a foreign world. He is observed by his sister Leda, embodied by Victoria Bloss or Ida, which meanwhile make television and allusions on "spaceship Enterprise".

equipment and performance

The stage design is characterized by colorful, futuristic elements and tiles on the wall, which is a non -realistic cuisine. Time is shown by a clock that progresses quickly. The technical aspects of the performance include impressive sounds by Jae a Shin and Richard Janssen, which create the sound of the sea, smack and wipe-an ASMR performance that leads the audience into an almost meditative mindfulness.

Marie Schleef's staging is designed as an associative slow motion performance. This approach emphasizes the essential topics of care work, self-love and alternative masculinity. In addition, it is atypical that Gordeev's text is not spoken of, which also takes off from conventional theater productions.

A look at the happy ending

Another outstanding element of the performance is the happy ending, in which Konstantin hugs a dust cuddly monster. This symbolically stands for the acceptance of the dirt and overcoming the inner conflicts. The entire staging takes 1 hour and 20 minutes, without a break.

The costumes designed by Eleonore Carrière combine everyday and absurd elements and contribute to the surreal atmosphere of the play. The rear wall of the stage opens three times during the performance, which symbolizes contact with the outside world and offers the audience further access to the topics of isolation and connection.

summarized “he cleans” the audience into a completely new theater experience that celebrates both everyday and absurd and at the same time raises deep questions about the role of the individual in society. The premiere at the Wiesbaden Staatstheater is the foundation for a staging that will remember for a long time, and thus joins the long traditions of brave and innovative theater performances. Further information on the staging is available on the website of the Staatstheater Wiesbaden and and Nachtkritikik.de