The Broken Jug

by Heinrich von Kleist
Theatre
  • First night this season
    Sat 31.10.
    19:30–21:50
  • Mon 2.11.
    11:00–13:20
    Tickets on sale from 2.10.
  • Wed 4.11.
    19:30–21:50
    Tickets on sale from 2.10.
  • Thu 12.11.
    19:30–21:50
    Tickets on sale from 2.10.
  • Thu 19.11.
    19:30–21:50
    Tickets on sale from 2.10.

Marthe Rull goes to court. Her earthenware jug was broken last night, following an assault in her daughter’s room. Eve and her fiance Ruprecht were left behind, but the latter claims that another broke the jug. Adam, the village judge, presides over the case. However, Adam himself is the culprit, having followed Eve to her room under false pretences in order to force her into sexual favours…

The directing duo Katharina Schmidt and Roman Konieczny interrogate the currency of Kleist’s »comedy« (it premiered in 1808) in times of #MeToo and the anti-feminist backlash.



Info

in German without surtitles

Location
Theater Heidelberg, Marguerre-Saal
Duration
2 hrs. 20 mins. (incl. intermission)
First night
18 October 2025
Revival
31 October 2026
Age recommendation
15+

The play’s backstory  involves an act of sexual violence against a young woman. The play itself then deals with the young woman's situation within a court case that is conducted unfairly for long stretches. Misogynistic expressions are used in the language, and in one scene, abusive behaviour occurs on stage. A loud bang is played several times during the production.

Listen to an introduction by Maria Schneider here (in German).

»Judge Adam broke the jug!«

Cast

Walter, Gerichtsrat
Adam, Dorfrichter
Licht, Schreiber
Frau Marthe Rull
Eve, ihre Tochter
Veit Tümpel, ein Bauer
Ruprecht, sein Sohn
Frau Brigitte

Band

Electronic organ, vocals
Julia »Jules« Nagele, Seyda Sibel
Electric guitar, vocals
Josie Stickdorn, Vanessa Jung
Electric bass, vocals
Drums, vocals
Lisa Wilhelm, Enya Specht

Team

Stage and Costumes
Live Camera
Elisa Svensson, Paul Liedvogel
Lighting Design
Ralf Kabrhel
Live Sound
Lorenzo Westermann, Tobias Schirmann, Emanuel John
Dramaturgy
Education
Assistant Director
Corinna Reichle
Stage Manager
Joris Freisinger
Soufflage
Sarah Kreß
Rehearsal cover
Henner John
Assistant Stage Design
Chantal Navina Mathes
Costume Assistant
Hannah Schäfer, Clara Akemi Wilkening
Costume Hospitanz
Lisa Wende
Assistant Dramaturgy
Orina Vogt

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

Cast