ARENDT, to see in darkness
ARENDT, to see in darkness
Denmark’s Premiere August 31, 2023
ODENSE TEATER, Denmark,
Co- Produced by OFF-OFF Productions and ODENSE Teater
A gripping drama based on the life and thinking of philosopher Hannah Arendt.
The performance takes us to 1975, where Arendt is in Copenhagen, Denmark, to receive the renowned Sonning Prize. Here, she is confronted with voices from the past that lead her on an intense, turbulent journey through her life, the choices she made, and the political theories she presented. We follow her on the run from the Nazis in 1930s Berlin, as a stateless person in France and the USA, and as a correspondent for The New Yorker during the trial of top Nazi Adolf Eichmann.
The performance reflects today’s challenges with anti-democratic movements, totalitarianism, and populism, which raise questions about our responsibility as humans – questions that Arendt herself explored throughout her life.
This performance is a work of fiction inspired by the life and thinking of Hannah Arendt.
Written by: Rhea Leman
Director: Anne Zacho Søgaard
The Cast: Ina-Miriam Rosenbaum, Benjamin Kitter, Klaus T. Søndergaard
Set Design and costumes: Lisbeth Burian
Musik: August Rosenbaum
Dramaturg: Mathias Rosenkrands
Written by: Rhea Leman
Director: Anne Zacho Søgaard
The Cast: Ina-Miriam Rosenbaum, Benjamin Kitter, Klaus T. Søndergaard
Set Design and costumes: Lisbeth Burian
Musik: August Rosenbaum
Music/Sound design: August Rosenbaum
Sound design: Ise Klysner Kjems
Light design: Andreas Buhl
Choreography: Alma Toaspern
Dramaturg: Mathias Rosenkrands
Photos: Emilia Therese
”Rhea Leman’s text is nothing less than outstanding.”
Anne Middelboe Christensen, Information
”ARENDT – to see in darkness is a radiant portrait of one of the most essential personalities in the 20th century.” “Effortless and fascinating theatre.”
Asger Hedegaard Boye, Weekendavisen
****
“Imagine people pouring in to see theatre about the Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt! Probably a sign of the need to get a helping hand to understand the actual turbulence now, where the tectonic plates of history are beginning to rock under us.”
Mona Ditmer, Politiken
“’Arendt’ is excellent and thought-provoking theatre”.
“Arendt – to see in the dark” is an extremely contemporary performance that, with humanity and hope in focus, explores how Nazism and other totalitarian dictatorships can arise.
Kirsten Dahl, Århus Stiftende
******
“Rhea Leman’s latest play ARENDT, not only stands out as her most ambitious but also as her most enriching.”
Michael Søby, Cph.Culture
******
“Based on the female philosopher Hannah Arendt, Rhea Leman has written a play that is to that extent stripped of redundant side actions and yet saturated in the description of a strong woman who had to flee from Nazism in 1933 and subsequently suffer in France when the Germans came, while she, like many other Jewish refugees in the United States, finally found sanctuary.”
”Arendt ought to be seen by as many as possible because when have we last had such a thoughtful theatre experience so very hard to shake?”
Ulla Strømberg Kulturkupeen
******
“Rhea Leman’s dramatization of Hannah Arendt’s life is excellent, … a small stroke of genius.”
Svend Novrup, Kjerteminde Avis
*****
“Beautifully thought-out portrait of the philosopher Hannah Arendt, where Ina-Miriam Rosenbaum, in a gigantic performance, is soaring through time and space in historical fiction by Rhea Leman.”
Kasper Koeller, Sceneblog
*****
“Playwright Rhea Leman not only tells about Hannah Arendt’s life but also includes her philosophical work and theories. This results in an exciting, distinct narrative that is equal parts historical, dramatic, and intellectual. Thus, it is beautifully shown how Arendt’s own experiences have created the fertile ground for her theoretical work.”
”ARENDT – to see in darkness is a magnificent and riveting piece of drama, both entertaining and food for thought. It is a performance that wants to grasp a hold of us.”
Naja Matzen, Ungt teater blod
*****
“A wonderfully humanizing portrayal of an esteemed philosophical persona who very few people know as a human being. … An important person and history, not least in times like these.”
Carl Sørensen, Scenekanten
