Iphigenia on new paths: Weimar presents a dramatic new production

Iphigenia on new paths: Weimar presents a dramatic new production

The premiere of “Iphigenia: A Visitation” took place on September 19, 2025 at the German National Theater Weimar. Directed by Miriam Ibrahim, the production celebrates the realignment of the stage and marks the start of a new direction. Valentin Schwarz, Dorian Dreher and Timon Jansen are involved in this new management and are bringing a breath of fresh air into the traditional house.

The main character Iphigenie, masterfully reinterpreted by Julienne De Muirier, addresses emotional conflicts and a complex family history. Destined to be a victim by her father, she finds herself caught up in a drama full of intrigue and tragedy. Her father Agamemnon plans to sacrifice her to gain favorable winds for his fleet, resulting in terrible trauma when her mother Clytemnestra ultimately kills him. In a vicious circle of revenge, the brother Orestes then kills the mother. This is how a dark family epic unfolds that captivates its audience.

A strong ensemble and innovative staging

In the production, Iphigenia is represented by a three-person choir. The singers Benita Bailey and Mona Zarreh Hoshyari Khah as well as the singer Christian Bayer impressively bring out the emotional depth of the character. The choreographed dialogues and choral interludes create a special dynamic and call on the audience to think about the themes of the piece.

Significant thematic threads run through the performance: Iphigenia lives in exile on the island of Taurus, full of longing for her family. Here she takes on the role of a priestess of the goddess Diana and fights to abolish cruel rituals. Iphigenia shows herself to be a moral compass in a world in which fate and family ties often take a bloody course. The production deals with violence in an innovative way by filmically projecting these scenes onto a screen.

Unique perspectives and follow-up appointments

The new perspective on Goethe's classic, created by Ibrahim and De Muirier, leaves room for discussion about non-violent resistance and the encounter with the stranger. The work is considered “demonically human” and symbolizes an important step towards human peace. The production explores how Iphigenia recognizes her brother Orestes, who is being pursued by the Furies, and attempts to end the bloody custom of human sacrifice.

The upcoming performance dates have already been set and offer plenty of opportunities to experience this impressive evening:

• Freitag, 23. Januar 2026, 19:30 Uhr
• Samstag, 27. September 2025, 19:30 Uhr
• Samstag, 18. Oktober 2025, 19:30 Uhr
• Sonntag, 2. November 2025, 16:00 Uhr
• Donnerstag, 13. November 2025, 19:30 Uhr

The German National Theater Weimar offers a place where theater lovers can discover the timelessly important themes of identity, family and moral decisions. The production not only captivates connoisseurs of Goethe's work, but also appeals to younger generations who want to relive the moving story of Iphigenia.

More information about this captivating production can be found at Night review, while that Weimar culture portal contains the next performance dates. Interesting facts about Goethe's original work can be found at Wikipedia.