Premiered on 19 August 2020 at Salzburger Festspiele
Premiered in Berlinon 15 Oktober 2020
Co-production with Salzburg Festival

 

 

What remains, what counts at the end of our lives?  In »Everywoman«, a successful  actress meets a woman who has been diagnosed with a lethal disease, whose last wish it is to perform one last time in a play. Starting with the allegorical morality play »Jedermann« about a righteous lifestyle and redemption through faith, an intimate conversation about the past and future ensues — about life, death, loneliness and  community.

 

Milo Rau and Ursina Lardi have undertaken philosophical and existential research for »Everywoman«. What is death? Why this ultimate test —all alone? Why is there »nothing new to say about death«, as the play claims? And what might constitute a humane, an artistic answer to the scandalous fact of our common mortality?

Milo Rau
The writer and director of numerous plays, films, books and actions was born in Bern (Switzerland) and studied sociology and German and Romance languages and literature. Since 2018, he has been artistic director of NTGent in Belgium. His productions have toured more than 30 countries. In 2007, he founded the »International Institute of Political Murder« (IIPM). His work has been invited to festivals including the Theatertreffen in Berlin, the Festival d’Avignon, the Biennale Teatro di Venezia, the Wiener Festwochen and the Kunstenfestival in Brussels. His numerous accolades include the Swiss Theatre Award in 2014 and 2021, an award at the »Festival des Deutschen Films« in 2014, a Bern Literary Commission stipend in 2016, the 3sat Prize, Theatre Director of the Year (Deutsche Bühne), and the Theater heute Production of the Year – all in 2017 – as well as the Swiss Film Award in 2021. He has received honorary doctorates from the universities of Ghent and Lund. In 2022, he was invited to deliver the Zurich Poetics Lectures.

Ursina Lardi
Member of the Schaubühne ensemble since 2012. Born in Samedan (Switzerland). Studied acting at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin. Engagements at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, Schauspiel Frankfurt, Schauspiel Hannover, Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg and the Berliner Ensemble. Numerous appearances in films and on television including in »The White Ribbon« (2009, directed by Michael Haneke, Palme d’Or at Cannes), »Lore« (2012, directed by Cate Shortland, Lola in Bronze) and »Der namenlose Tag« (2017, directed by Volker Schlöndorff). Accolades include: 2006 Prize of the Eliette von Karajan Cultural Foundation, 2014 Swiss Film Award for Best Actress, 2017 Hans Reinhart Ring, the most prestigious Swiss award for theatre professionals. Guest of honour with her own retrospective at the 2016 Solothurn Film Festival.

 

 

With one persona whole world dies,that's nothing new.But rarely has it
been conveyedas forcefully ashere.

With one persona whole world dies,that's nothing new.But rarely has it
been conveyedas forcefully ashere.
- Berliner Morgenpost,18.10.2020

 

The passages in which Ursina Lardi enters in toadirect (on-screen) dialogue with her, From Everywoman to Everywoman,so to speak,are the strongest of the evening. The resulting conversation is pleasantly unsentimental.Especially since Helga Bedau actually has acaptivting screen presence.Even when she falls asleep at the table-permanent fatigue is currently the worst symptom of illness,she had explained at the beginning-one remains glued to her expressive face for the entire evening.
- Tagesspiegel,18.10.2020

The Schaubühne was founded in 1962 and is nowadays one of the most famous and renowned theatres in the German speaking area. Since 1999 it has been led by artistic director Thomas Ostermeier. As one of Berlin's five largest ensemble and repertory theatres, it stands for modern, contemporary theatre. The Schaubühne premieres a minimum of ten shows per season alongside a repertoire of about 25 existing productions.

The repertoire is characterised by a critical and analytical, often political view of social reality and encompasses both classical and contemporary plays. The permanent ensemble includes the actors Lars Eidinger, Caroline Peters, Joachim Meyerhoff and Ursina Lardi, among others. International exchange is essential to the work of the Schaubühne. The theatre frequently offers a platform to notable directors from abroad. At the same time, the Schaubühne showcases its productions abroad in over 100 performances every year.

By Milo Rau und Ursina Lardi
Director: Milo Rau
Stage and Costume design: Anton Lukas
Costume design support: Ottavia Castelotti
Video: Moritz von Dungern
Sound: Jens Baudisch
Dramaturgy: Carmen Hornbostel, Christian Tschirner
Research: Carmen Hornbostel
Lighting design: Erich Schneider
Mit: Ursina Lardi, Helga Bedau (Video)
Statistiks: Georg Arms, Irina Arms, Jochen Arms, Julia Bürki, Keziah Bürki, Samuel Bürki, Achim Heinecke, Lisa Heinecke (Video)