Skip to content

Murder, choreographed in German

German language play examines insanity as a defence in court
61933vicnewsWoyzeckActorPNov2311
Ovidiu Raithu plays Johann Christian Woyzeck in a German-language play at UVic on Thursday

The Phoenix Theatre is trying a whole new type of collaboration on a tale of madness and murder.

Both Germanic and theatre students at the University of Victoria come together to present a play from 1837, as written in its original language: German.

The play, called Woyzeck: The Choreography of a Murder, is based on the trial of Johann Christian Woyzeck in 1821. It represents the first use of insanity as a defence in a murder case in the German courts.

The cast use an expressive style of acting, to make the play suitable for both German and non-German speaking audiences. It runs Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, at 8 p.m. at UVic’s Phoenix Theatre. Tickets are $5. Call 250-721-8000.