Hansel and Gretel are hungry. This life-threatening situation affects one in five children in Kassel, due to rising food prices and poverty rates. Hunger is literally eating Hansel and Gretel from the inside out. They can only dream of a gingerbread house decorated with their favorite sweets. When they spill the milk, their impoverished parents punish them by sending them into the forest to gather berries. Desperate, the siblings set off, but they can't find their way back home. In the enchanted fairy-tale forest, Hansel and Gretel encounter all sorts of fantastical creatures who help them on their adventure, until suddenly the famous question, "Nibble, nibble, little mouse, who's nibbling at my little house?" echoes from the woods.

Hansel and Gretel

Staatstheater Kassel

To the world-famous strains of Verdi's triumphal march, Kassel's new opera ship sets sail on its voyage through the ocean of the global market and the shallows of its global crises. What begins as a sensual cruise on our theatrical stage tanker in Kassel's new INTERIM venue will soon become the benchmark for a future of experiential music theater. And no sooner have we set sail than some are already grumbling that the boat is full, while others are demanding new defensive capabilities to preserve the current prosperity on deck.

Despite its crew of over 200 people—including the chorus, extra chorus, and supernumeraries, the state orchestra, the stage orchestra, the famous six distant trumpets, and the international cast of outstanding soloists—this musical ship of dreams is already listing badly on its maiden voyage with Giuseppe Verdi's Aida . For it soon becomes clear that Verdi's ecstatic love story is primarily a parable of European imperialism—especially in the popular choral scenes with their biting musical jabs at the war-mongering Prussian military and its blind obedience. This imperialistic quest for a place in the sun evokes memories of the German Empire, forcibly founded by Prussia in 1871, the year of the premiere, which is now confined to the walls of the Kassel Jägerkaserne, built in 1910. On its former parade ground, the new INTERIM of the formerly Prussian, now Hessian State Theatre Kassel will open in autumn 2025 with Verdi's monumental work.

Daniela Vega

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 7 - Apr 11, 2026

Aida · Staatstheater Kassel

Past events

1 - 4 Mar, 2026

Hansel and Gretel · Staatstheater Kassel

Future and recently performed repertoire

Hansel in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck

Staatstheater Kassel

Una sacerdotessa in Aida by Verdi

Staatstheater Kassel

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