The Federal Cabinet recently approved a catalogue of no fewer than 111 measures to combat loneliness. Loneliness, it states, increases the risk of obesity, depression, heart attacks, and Alzheimer's disease, and is a complex problem affecting society as a whole, one that incurs high costs and can become a threat to democracy. There are 14 million lonely people in Germany alone, and as a result of the pandemic, the number of those who describe themselves as at least occasionally lonely has risen to over 40 percent. Everyone knows what it feels like to be lonely.

Comedy of Loneliness

Werkstattbühne

Paula meets Paul in front of her apartment building. They don't know each other and pass each other by. Everything could have turned out differently. That's often how it is. She works in a supermarket and is a single mother. At a funfair, she meets Colly – not exactly a jackpot, but at least a welcome distraction from her monotonous everyday life. And who knows, maybe he's the love of her life. She gets pregnant and gives birth to their child alone in the hospital. The doctor warns her against another pregnancy; she barely survived this one. Back home, Colly cheats on her with another woman. No, he wasn't the love of her life. Maybe she'll simply accept the offer from Saft, a well-off but much older businessman. He would be a father to the children and provide them with financial security. She doesn't love him, but it does sound tempting not to have to handle everything alone. A person can't just sleep and work all day. But one day she wants to really party, so she goes out. In a bar, she meets Paul a second time. She falls in love and throws herself passionately into the relationship. But Paul is married with a child. Life isn't kind to Paula again. They separate, and her despair causes Paula to lose her attention for a moment. A tragic accident changes everything. Paul can no longer stand his marriage and chooses Paula, whom he can win back. And now, for both of them, great happiness could finally come true. When Paula becomes pregnant for the third time, she has to make a decision – and chooses hope.

EPSG:4326

The Legend of Paul and Paula

Schauspielhaus Bad Godesberg

Four migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti and Guinea tell us their true stories.

216 million [UA]

Felix Krull is a fool for everyone. Charming, sophisticated, and with ease. Early on, he discovered his love of acting, which paved the way for him, paving the way for him in ways one would never have thought possible. Ultimately, he looks back on a life full of deception and pretense, loneliness, and questions about his own identity.

Confessions of the imposter Felix Krull

The often painful vitality of female embodiments takes center stage. Author Katja Brunner doesn't mince words. Her play is a wild verbal tirade centered on the female body: bodies of all ages, every shape. Including the female body that knows how to stage and position itself, that gives birth, ages—or empties itself through vomiting. Then, for example, the chorus of bulimics speaks, listing all the things they vomit on: fatherland, motherland, EU, fathers and their fathers, vomiting for you, against us, a little for me.

The Hand is a lonely hunter

Theater Bonn Opera House

Elisabeth is confident. Although she's currently unemployed, has no business license, and still has a fine to pay, what she can rely on is herself. Or rather, her body. She wants to sell it to the anatomical institute for scientific experiments after her death. In return, she hopes to receive 150 marks immediately. That would be enough money for her business license. And with that, she could start her own business and work again. And once she had a job, the world would be her oyster again! Unfortunately, Elisabeth seems to have been completely misinformed. The institute has no interest in acquiring her body. Times are tough. The lonely taxidermist still wants to help and lends her the money. She, in turn, uses this to pay off her previous conviction. Of course, he would never have given his hard-earned money to a criminal. He reports her for fraud, and Elisabeth is sentenced to prison. Once free again, she joins the long line of job seekers in front of the welfare office. Without success. By chance, she meets the police officer Alfons. The two fall in love, but Elisabeth keeps quiet about her run-in with the law. When this comes out, he abandons her to avoid jeopardizing his career. Elisabeth is alone again. Without prospects and worn down by everyday life, she has lost faith in a better society, her love for Alfons, and her hope that she will still find happiness.

Faith, love, hope

Every person is an abyss – no one knows this better than those who stand inexorably before it. Like the penniless soldier Woyzeck, who does everything humanly possible to provide for his girlfriend Marie and their child. He is his captain's henchman and barber and a doctor's guinea pig. At the mercy of his poverty, Woyzeck suffers a daily life dominated by ridicule, agitation, drill, contempt, and violence. His friend Andres suffers a similar fate, but at least he never gives up hope for a peaceful revolution from below. Marie hopes for a more independent life, but apart from providing full-time care for her child, she doesn't know how she can achieve this. Her neighbor Margret observes social conditions very closely. A rage is growing inside her that is slowly spreading to everyone else.

Paul Michael Stiehler

Events

Past events

23 - 30 May, 2025

Comedy of Loneliness · Theater Bonn

Apr 13 - May 3, 2025

The Legend of Paul and Paula · Theater Bonn

About

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