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The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time

Rachid Zinaladin, Tim Knieps, Timo Jander, Nora Rebecca Wolff, Susanne Berckhemer, Tabea Mewis; Photo: Susanne Reichardt
Scene photo from »The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time«: Six figures can be seen in a row. On the far left are the weavers Fritz and Michel, who are waving their arms. Next to them is the emperor with a large green spray bottle, to the right is the princess, who is holding her arms out in defence. Next to them, the minister swings a green fly swatter and aims it in the direction of the moth, which is sneaking away on the far right of the picture. In the background you can see the bright yellow
Susanne Berckhemer, Timo Jander; Photo: Susanne Reichardt
Scene photo from »The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time«: The minister can be seen on the left, running after the emperor. He runs to the right with an angry expression. He has yellow hair, wears a crown and a bright yellow and green suit. He is holding a sceptre in his left hand. Bright yellow drawers and hanging clothes can be seen in the background.
Tabea Mewis; Photo: Susanne Reichardt
Scene photo from »The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time«: The moth stands in the centre, raising her cape with her arms, which looks like two moth wings. She is smiling and wearing a glittery suit with short arms and legs, with long arm and leg net parts underneath. On her head she wears a headband with two feelers attached. Behind her is a bright yellow pedestal with a throne on it. Behind it you can see the red walls of the Heidelberg castle.
Nora Rebecca Wolff, Tabea Mewis; Photo: Susanne Reichardt
Scene photo from »The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time«: The princess and the moth are standing several metres apart. Together, they each hold a long roll of paper at one end, on which graphs and representations of molecules can be seen. Behind them is the bright yellow stage set, which shows the silhouette of a castle. The stage set is located in the reddish sandstone walls of Heidelberg Castle.
Rachid Zinaladin, Tim Knieps, Nora Rebecca Wolff; Photo: Susanne Reichardt
Scene photo from »The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time«: Close-up. Weaver Fritz and Michel hold hands. Both are wearing black overalls. Michel has closed his eyes and formed a kissing mouth, stretching up his right leg. Fritz, on the other hand, leans slightly away from Michel and looks surprised. The princess can be seen in the background. She is wearing a crown, hat and glasses and also has her eyes closed and is making a kissy face.
Timo Jander, Susanne Berckhemer; Photo: Susanne Reichardt
Scene photo from »The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time«: Close-up. The emperor and the minister embrace. The Emperor has yellow hair, wears a crown and a bright yellow and green suit and looks up sentimentally. The minister is wearing a green jacket and has a large bun. She keeps her eyes closed and presses her head against his chest.
Tabea Mewis, Timo Jander; Photo: Susanne Reichardt
Scene photo from »The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time«: The emperor stands at the front, looking to the right and waving. He has yellow hair, wears a crown and a bright yellow and green suit. The moth can be seen in the background on the left, looking anxiously at the emperor. She is standing behind a large, bright yellow chain with a black lock hanging from it.
Rachid Zinaladin, Susanne Berckhemer, Tim Knieps, Nora Rebecca Wolff, Tabea Mewis; Photo: Susanne Reichardt
Scene photo from »The Emperor’s New Clothes – Moth Time«: In the centre front, the princess stands with her arm outstretched, screaming joyfully and with narrowed eyes. At the back left are Fritz, the spider and Michel, and at the back right is the moth. They are all looking at the princess. In the background you can see the bright yellow stage set, which shows the silhouette of a castle.

By Sascha Löschner based on the text by Hans Christian Andersen

Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele
Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele
Young Theatre [6+]
Englischer Bau
in German

The emperor is vain, megalomaniac and bankrupt. He wants to be the most beautiful man in the universe. He doesn't care about his starving people, the main thing is that he can use the taxes to have new and ever more splendid clothes made. He pays no attention to his daughter and only recognises his ministers as order takers. He only actively hunts moths himself, as they threaten his most precious possession. When the emperor finally captures the last surviving moth, his daughter's only friend, the princess flees into the forest. There she joins forces with two poor weavers who want to teach the emperor a lesson. Will they succeed? Will the moth be set free again? 

Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale from 1837 is still relevant today, telling of the arbitrariness of power and that it always takes courageous people who dare to speak the truth.

This production is accompanied by a programme from the Arts & Education team.

Find order form for school classes here.

Direction and Sounddesign
Ekat Cordes
Stage Design and Costumes
Anike Sedello
Dramaturgy
Ilon Jödicke
Theatre Education
Manuel Ramminger
Weber Michel / Bänkelsänger
Tim Knieps
Weber Fritz
Rachid Zinaladin
Prinzessin Penelopee Vivien Jette
Nora Rebecca Wolff
Kleidermotte Tine / Wache
Tabea Mewis
Kaiser
Timo Jander
Ministerin / Spinne
Susanne Berckhemer
Voice (sound recording)
Lisa Förster
Assistant Director
Caroline Ufer
Directorial Internship
Jana Kühl
Costume Assistance
Katharina Kallert

The production of the decorative parts is carried out in the workshops of the Theater und Orchester Heidelberg.

A complete list of all employees of the technical departments involved can be found here.

Für die Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung (24. Juni 2025) berichtet Elena Hartmann von einem »absoluten Klassiker der Kinderliteratur«, der hier mit einem »charmanten Update« versehen und von Regisseur Ekat Cordes »sinnvoll um moderne Elemente ergänzt« worden sei. Die Inszenierung nutze die Spielstätte »kreativ«, die Ausstattung habe »aus dem Vollen« geschöpft und das Ensemble überzeuge durch »Energie und Leidenschaft«. Das »dauerhafte Lachen des Publikums« und den »minutenlange[n] Applaus« versteht die Kritikerin als »klare« Empfehlung: alle Altersgruppen könnten hier »sehr viel Spaß« haben.

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