Joseph and his brothers (Joseph und seine Brüder)

Joseph is Jacob’s favourite son and receives preferential treatment. His jealous brothers beat Joseph, throw his body into a dry well and leave him for dead. But travelling merchants find Joseph and take him to Egypt. Here they sell him as a slave to Potiphar, third in rank of the officers of Pharaoh. Joseph quickly finds favour with Potiphar -- and with Potiphar’s wife who lusts after Joseph. So when he rebuffs her advances, she exacts her revenge by claiming that Joseph raped her. Joseph is thrown in jail and once again his fate looks sealed. However he’s saved by his ability to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, which foretell of seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine. Hailed as the provider who saved the Egyptians from starvation, Joseph becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man. Now that he’s established himself, Joseph is finally able to acknowledge his parentage and brings his father and brothers to Egypt. But Joseph also comes to realize that his travels have made him a different person and estranged him from his family –even from his beloved father.
 
Inspired by the biblical story of Joseph, Thomas Mann wrote “Joseph and His Brothers” as a novel in four parts. Now John von Düffel has adapted Mann’s tetralogy for the stage. This production is the first that Alize Zandwijk --Artistic Director of the RO Theatre in Rotterdam – has ever staged in Berlin.