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In Heinrich von Kleist’s Penthesilea, the fatal love between Amazonian queen Penthesilea and the Greek army leader Achilles comes relentlessly bursting to the surface.


The Amazons are a people of solely female warriors. They are only allowed to procreate with men who had been defeated by them in battle. In the Trojan war, they fight the Greeks not to help the besieged Trojans, but to capture soldiers. When Penthesilea and Achilles meet eye to eye on the battlefield, it is love at first sight. From that moment on, Penthesilea does all she can to defeat him.


Heinrich von Kleist’s Penthesilea is considered to be one of the masterpieces of the European theatre repertoire. Eline Arbo is currently directing this equally moving and complex love story.


Eline Arbo: ‘The encounter between Penthesilea and Achilles plunges both into an existential crisis. Despite their mutual love, they fail to come together. They underestimate each other, and the results are horrible. The piece is more than a story about the difference between men and women. It shows how we internalise the norms and values of our own culture.’


With English surtitles on Thu 22 and Fri 23 June.

  • Eline Arbo, director

    © Fabian Calis

credits

by Heinrich von Kleist direction Eline Arbo music Thijs van Vuure musical direction Thijs van Vuure adaptation Eline Arbo, Bart Van den Eynde translation Gerrit Komrij dramaturgy Bart Van den Eynde scenography Pascal Leboucq lighting design Varja Klosse sound design Dennis Slot costumes Alva Brosten cast Ilke Paddenburg, Maria Kraakman, Jesse Mensah, Felix Schellekens, Maarten Heijmans, Marieke Heebink, Steven van Watermeulen, Eefje Paddenburg, Daphne Agten producer Jeroen van Ingen, Jaap Kooijman, Bertil van Kaam with the support of Ammodo assistent direction Daniel ’t Hoen, Zorba Huisman casting advice Hans Kemna production ITA-ensemble, Iris Istha

This performance is made possible by