Nachtland, written in 2022 by the internationally acclaimed German playwright Marius von Mayenburg, is a witty and ironic comedy, both challenging and thought-provoking; a daring commentary about the grey areas of the past, the complexities of our heritage, and the legacies we inherit, exploring the falsification of history, the intersections of art and commerce, and the influence of money. How do we manage the past? Can a work of art be separated from the life of its creator?

Two siblings meet at their father’s house to clear it after his death. While tidying up and sorting through his possessions, they discover a watercolour in the attic. A dramatic turn of events triggers a series of moral questions and dilemmas, leading them to precarious conclusions and ambiguous decisions. The story unfolds around the painting and its possible creator. Who is it signed by? A. Hiller or A. Hitler? The picture gives rise to conflict, exposing divisions between the members of the family, who have to face up to their own dark inheritance, as well as to the shadow cast by Nazism and the Holocaust in modern Germany.

Athens Xenidou returns to Thoc’s New Stage to direct another of the author’s plays, after 2013’s Petra, this time drawing us into a bold discussion about morality, political correctness and collective guilt. She is supported by a strong ensemble of talented artists.

Performances

Nicosia | Thoc Theatre, New Stage
From 1^st November 2024
and every Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 6pm
and on tour

Recommended for audiences above 14 years of age.