Theatertreffen 2026, Guest Performance at the Münchner Kammerspiele
In *Mephisto*, Jette Steckel and her outstanding ensemble bring to the stage—through poetic, clear, and finely crafted imagery—the tightrope walk an actor must navigate between personal gain and criticism of the system, as well as the question of artistic freedom under an authoritarian regime.
Image gallery
Deutsches Theater Berlin
The actor Hendrik Höfgen is on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of his career: he lands a position at the Prussian State Theater in Berlin, shines as Mephisto in Goethe’s Faust, and is ultimately appointed artistic director by the Prime Minister.
But this rise comes at a price: Höfgen makes a pact with the Nazi regime and becomes ensnared in the role of his life.
Klaus Mann’s novel Mephisto is considered a key work of postwar literature and explores the behavior and responsibility of the individual in an authoritarian regime, inspired by real-life figures.
In Jette Steckel’s impressive and clever production, the entire plot takes place within the theater. In doing so, she also brings the role of artists within the theater world into focus and creates a celebration of the art of acting:
The ensemble is in top form, led by Thomas Schmauser with his multi-layered and memorable performance, which brings the main character’s inner conflicts to light and is a spectacle in itself.
Additional information
- Based on the novel by Klaus Mann
- DIRECTED BY Jette Steckel
- 3 hours 40 minutes, 1 intermission
- in German with English surtitles
Dates
May 2026
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