Dead White Males

by David Williamson

Autumn 2014

David Williamson’s “Dead White Males” is situated between the great lines of conflict of the intellectual world: Patriarchy versus feminism, post-structuralism versus liberal humanism, modern ways of thinking versus the values of the past. And in the middle of it all: Angela Judd, a bright, young university student whose life at home and in the lecture hall is shaped by these conflicts. Her mother Sarah is a fiercely dedicated feminist while her husband Martin wallows in his lack of self-confidence. Angela’s grandfather Col is probably the biggest chauvinist in town, her aunt Jessica, the artist of the family, looks for ever new ways of self-expression and fulfillment while her sister Monica is the most plain of unremarkable plain Janes. And finally there are Dr. Swain, Angela’s literature professor, as well as the most famous of all dead, white males, William Shakespeare. Between the two of them they fight to convince Angela of their view on the matters of the value of literature and the existence of a human nature. When Angela decides to conduct interviews with different members of her family as her final project for Dr. Swain’s class, she realizes that the world and the people around her are not as they seem to be…

“Dead White Males” plays with contrasts that are cleverly revealed in the portrayal of its characters and by means of which it explains the frequently gaping differences between theory and reality, in science and in life. Peppered with scenes from William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, it successfully connects the past with the present and poses the legitimate question of the importance of old values for our modern lives.

Directed by

Elisabeth Raasch
Co-Director: Nils Kuphal

Cast

Angela Judd – Charis Luvangadio
William Shakespeare – Zoé Rehder
Dr. Grant Swain – Jonas Freiwald
Melissa – Natalia Petrova
Steve – David Lorch
Col Judd – René Glebke
Grace Judd – Lili Stracke
Martin Judd – Jens Wischnewsky
Sarah Judd – Katharina Hirsch
Jessica Squires – Katharina Kröcker
Monica Judd – Christine Knorr

Organisation

Elisabeth Raasch, René Glebke

Costumes, Make-up and Hair

Katharina Hirsch, Katharina Kröcker, Zoé Rehder

Stage

Natalia Petrova

Props

David Lorch

Light and Sound

Matthias Schaffrath

Public Relations

Charis Luvangadio, Eva Onkels

Posters and Programme

Thomas Michalski

Box Office, Bar and Stage Hands

Monika Cera, Tobias Grosskreutz, Mercedes Hachmann, Eva Onkels

Sincere Thanks to

Everyone suporting us with dedication every day!

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