Willy Loman is a self-made man! Some decades ago now, he was one of the hardest working men in his field. He was successful. Unfortunately, business has fallen off and while the bills are piling up, the times are changing – and only Willy won't. He doesn't see why hard work and believing in himself should no longer be enough. All that is left are his dreams, his pride and a sense of nostalgia.
Image gallery
Tod eines Handlungsreisenden
Tod eines Handlungsreisenden
Tod eines Handlungsreisenden
Tod eines Handlungsreisenden
Tod eines Handlungsreisenden
Tod eines Handlungsreisenden
Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" describes the decline of a man who unconditionally believes in the American dream while overlooking its brutality:
all the lies we tell ourselves to justify our desire for power, for security and recognition; all the people we sacrifice to meet our expectations. But also the moments when community would have been possible against all odds.
MAX LINDEMANN grew up in the Ruhr-area and studied theatre directing. After his debut with "Aufzeichnungen aus dem Kellerloch", he most recently directed the world premiere of Sibylle Berg's "Es kann doch nur noch besser werden" and the staged reading of Michel Friedman's "Fremd" with Sibel Kelkilli at Berliner Ensemble.
Additional information
Of fear and longing A letter by Arthur Miller recently surfaced in which he gives a former student insights into what was important to him in "Death of a Salesman." In it, he describes a central problem: a social ideal that does not value people for what they achieve together for and with others, but rather for what they "accumulate" – that is, for the power, money, and status they amass. According to Miller, this ideal leads to hatred among people and ultimately causes our fears. What's more: "...whether you are successful in it or not, sooner or later you become aware of your emptiness, your inner poverty, and your isolation from humanity." Miller's struggle with the ideals of our society is 75 years old, and – as far removed as the profession of traveling salesman seems to us today – it is just as relevant as the lies we tell ourselves to justify our desire for power, security, and recognition. It is just as relevant as the search for forgiveness from all the people we sacrifice for our expectations. But it is also as relevant as the longing for moments when community is possible despite everything. By Johannes Nölting
Participating artists
Von Arthur Miller (Autor/in)
Kathleen Morgeneyer (Linda, Kellner)
Max Gindorff (Biff)
Jannik Mühlenweg (Happy)
Oliver Kraushaar (Willy Loman)
Martin Rentzsch (Ben, Charly, Howard Wagner)
Max Lindemann
Marlene Lockemann
Eleonore Carrière
Sonja Deffner
Benjamin Schwigon
Johannes Nölting
