
4.48 Psychosis
by Sarah Kane
German by Durs Grünbein
at 4:48
in the happy hour
when clarity visits
warm darkness
which soaks my eyes
"It’s myself I have never met," writes Sarah Kane in her fifth and final play, her last take on life as a whole. 4.48 Psychosis is a poetic composition that is as associative as it is dissociative – a delicate web of voices, thoughts, numbers, and dialogues. It is an angry state between being at one and at odds with oneself, between normality and sickness, form and freedom, light and pain. The title refers to the exact moment when both poles collide. In his first work for the Deutsches Theater Berlin, director Ulrich Rasche takes this brutally honest text to delve into the border regions of the psyche and corporality, and in their interaction, explores the human desire to come into contact with one’s whole and "real" self. Based on the fundamental question of what consciousness is, he explores the vain human desire to find our complete self and to "touch [our] essential self".
Hatch opens
Stark light
the rupture begins.
I don't know where to look anymore.
at 4:48
in the happy hour
when clarity visits
warm darkness
which soaks my eyes
"It’s myself I have never met," writes Sarah Kane in her fifth and final play, her last take on life as a whole. 4.48 Psychosis is a poetic composition that is as associative as it is dissociative – a delicate web of voices, thoughts, numbers, and dialogues. It is an angry state between being at one and at odds with oneself, between normality and sickness, form and freedom, light and pain. The title refers to the exact moment when both poles collide. In his first work for the Deutsches Theater Berlin, director Ulrich Rasche takes this brutally honest text to delve into the border regions of the psyche and corporality, and in their interaction, explores the human desire to come into contact with one’s whole and "real" self. Based on the fundamental question of what consciousness is, he explores the vain human desire to find our complete self and to "touch [our] essential self".
Hatch opens
Stark light
the rupture begins.
I don't know where to look anymore.
Director / Stage Design Ulrich Rasche
Stage Franz Dittrich
Composition and Musical Direction Nico van Wersch
Choir Direction Toni Jessen
Costumes Clemens Leander
Video and Live-Camera Florian Seufert
Lighting Cornelia Gloth
Sound Design Marcel Braun, Martin Person
Dramaturgy David Heiligers
Premiere
17 January 2020
Deutsches Theater
17 January 2020
Deutsches Theater
Elias Arens

Katja Bürkle

Thorsten Hierse

Toni Jessen

Jürgen Lehmann

Kathleen Morgeneyer

Justus Pfankuch

Linda Pöppel

Yannik Stöbener
Carsten Brocker (E-Orgel)Live Music
Katelyn King (Schlagwerk)Live Music
Špela Mastnak (Schlagwerk)Live Music
Thomsen Merkel (Bass)Live Music
Elias Arens, Katja Bürkle, Thorsten Hierse, Toni Jessen, Jürgen Lehmann, Kathleen Morgeneyer, Justus Pfankuch, Linda Pöppel, Yannik Stöbener
Carsten Brocker (E-Orgel), Katelyn King (Schlagwerk), Špela Mastnak (Schlagwerk), Thomsen Merkel (Bass)
Live Music