Woyzeck

Songs and Lyrics by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
Concept by Robert Wilson
Adaptation by Ann-Christin Rommen and Wolfgang Wiens

"How red the moon is rising."
"Like a bloody knife."

Woyzeck is a lowly soldier who is in love with Marie. To be able to support her and their child, Woyzeck performs odd jobs for the Captain and lets the Doctor conduct medical experiments on him. The pressure on Woyzeck is so great that his thoughts begin to drive him mad. Then Marie meets the Drum Major and quickly recognizes that with him she could lead a much different, more carefree life. The physical and mental torture, others' sexual desires, the humiliation, loneliness and madness -- it all becomes too much for Woyzeck and he stabs Marie to death. 

Tom Waits’ songs ingeniously add another layer of meaning to Büchner’s script. His music conveys the characters’ hurt, pain and longing in a different way, complementing and interacting with them, and revealing their innermost feelings.