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Schiller's The Robbers” in Stralsund: A disappointing comeback?
Premiere of Schiller's “The Robbers” at the Theater Vorpommern: production shows unused potential, discussions among audience members.
Schiller's The Robbers” in Stralsund: A disappointing comeback?
On October 24, 2025, the Theater Vorpommern in Stralsund celebrated the premiere of Friedrich Schiller's classic drama “The Robbers”. Director Janis Knorr, who was hired for this production, already presented the piece in Greifswald. Despite the high expectations, the theater was not sold out that evening, which led to mixed reactions from the audience, who discussed the presentation in the foyer after the performance.
What was particularly noticeable was the loud roar of the actors, which seemed difficult to understand for some spectators. The fast speaking style also ensured that often only fragments of words reached the audience. Unfortunately, the Theater Vorpommern ensemble fell short of its potential in this production, and the performances were rated as less than outstanding overall. Franz Warnek's performance in the role of Spiegelberg was particularly negative.
Content and staging
Knorr's production criticizes black and white thinking and raises questions about gender representation, for example through the unclear casting of Franz as a woman. Despite a profound starting point, the production was unable to build on the successes of the previous season, where plays such as “Buddenbrooks” were very well received. “The Robbers” will be shown again in Stralsund on October 27th, followed by further performances on November 1st and 14th.
Schiller's background
Friedrich Schiller, who is considered one of the greatest German poets, often addressed the tension between power and the individual in his works. The creativity of his youth dramas such as “The Robbers” goes back to the political upheavals of his time. Schiller criticized social norms and the rigidity of the state, which is of central importance in the context of his works. He saw theater not just as an art form, but as a moral institution and means of communication to expose social problems and seek solutions.
His works are more than just stories; they reflect the deficits of rulers and their influence on citizens. This timeless relevance ensures that “The Robbers” is still played as an important piece on stages around the world today. However, the challenge remains to effectively convey this relevance in contemporary productions. This was precisely what was only partially successful in the current performance at the Theater Vorpommern.
The next performances in Greifswald are scheduled for November 8th, November 16th and December 7th. Theater fans will be curious to see whether the production will develop further by then and what the ensemble will do with it.