As Halloween approaches, the German State Theatre Timișoara (GSTT) invites audiences to two performances that explore, in different ways, the confrontation with our deepest fears, the limits of love, and the fragility of the human condition. On Friday, 30 October, and Saturday, 31 October, the GSTT stage becomes the setting for two intense theatrical encounters in which unease stems not from the supernatural, but from the depths of human experience.
On Friday, 30 October, at 7:30 PM, audiences are invited to see Penthesilea. A Requiem by Nino Haratischwili, directed by Eberhard Köhler. Drawing on the Greek myth of the Queen of the Amazons, the production brings to the fore a story of war, fate, and impossible love. Having established herself as a fearless warrior, Penthesilea faces a dilemma that challenges her convictions: having fallen in love with Achilles, her greatest enemy, the Queen of the Amazons risks repeating the mistake made by her sister, Antiope. In a world governed by oaths, conflict, and unwavering loyalties, passion becomes a force capable of overturning the established order. This contemporary reimagining of the myth offers a haunting journey into the spaces where love and violence, heroism and vulnerability, collide.
On Saturday, 31 October, also at 7:30 PM, The Son by Florian Zeller, directed by Mădălin Hîncu, shifts the focus from the world of mythology to the tensions within a contemporary family. Nicolas, a teenager struggling with emotional distress that those around him fail to fully understand, becomes the central figure in a story about communication, emotional vulnerability, and the difficulty of truly being there for one another. Behind the façade of an ordinary life lie fears, feelings of helplessness, and wounds that affect the entire family. The production avoids simplistic judgments and invites audiences to reflect on depression, parent-child relationships, and the way silence can deepen the distance between people. The performance will be followed by a discussion with the audience, moderated by Cristian Vicol.
As Halloween approaches, theatre needs no ghosts to send shivers down your spine. Sometimes, the most unsettling stories are those that confront us with our own contradictions, the fears we leave unspoken, and the questions that have no easy answers. Penthesilea. A Requiem and The Son offer two distinct perspectives on these anxieties, inviting audiences to discover the power of theatre to transform fear into an experience of reflection and dialogue.
Both performances are in German, with Romanian and English surtitles, and are recommended for audiences aged 14 and above. Tickets are available on entertix.ro or at the theatre’s box office.
Join us at the theatre this weekend! Find out more: https://teatrulgerman.ro/ro/program/
