The Years: A Theatrical Tribute to Memory
- HAMBURG, Germany (May 18, 2025) — The Hamburg Thalia Theater marked the end of an era with Jette Steckel's adaptation of Annie Ernaux's "The Years," a fitting tribute...
- Steckel's choice of Ernaux's work, a Nobel Prize-winning "collective autobiography" spanning 1940-2000, proved particularly apt.
- The production incorporates personal photographs, from childhood snapshots to awkward teenage portraits, brought to life by the ensemble. A core group of six actors, sporting similar brown wigs,...
Thalia Theater Bids Farewell to Director Lux with Ernaux Adaptation
Table of Contents
- Thalia Theater Bids Farewell to Director Lux with Ernaux Adaptation
- Thalia Theater Bids Farewell to joachim Lux with “The Years”
- What was the Hamburg Thalia Theater celebrating on May 18, 2025?
- Why was “The Years” chosen for this farewell performance?
- What is “The Years” about?
- How did Jette steckel stage the adaptation of “The Years”?
- What is the central theme of Steckel’s adaptation?
- What did the audience think of the performance?
HAMBURG, Germany (May 18, 2025) — The Hamburg Thalia Theater marked the end of an era with Jette Steckel’s adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s “The Years,” a fitting tribute to outgoing director Joachim Lux. The premiere, held in the theater’s main hall, concluded with a standing ovation, signaling unanimous approval from the audience.
Steckel’s choice of Ernaux’s work, a Nobel Prize-winning “collective autobiography” spanning 1940-2000, proved particularly apt. The play eschews the personal pronoun “I,” instead weaving individual experiences into a broader tapestry of societal change.
Steckel’s Staging: Memory and History Intertwined
The production incorporates personal photographs, from childhood snapshots to awkward teenage portraits, brought to life by the ensemble. A core group of six actors, sporting similar brown wigs, embody Annie Ernaux at various stages of her life. Video projections contextualize these personal moments within historical events, including footage of John F. Kennedy, the student protests of 1968, and the women’s rights movement.
There were so many, and you felt so alone with the knitting needle, the blood, which sprayed on the sheet.
Extract from “The Years”
A stage for Disappearing Pictures and Fleeting Memories
Steckel’s staging, featuring a live band and nearly the entire Thalia Theater ensemble, emphasizes the interplay between individual and collective memory.Florian Lösche’s set design, characterized by large, clear walls that can be opened and closed, further underscores this theme. One audience member noted the powerful effect of the walls, observing how the crowd was at times both inside and outside, visible only as shadowy figures through flickering white projections, suggesting a disruption of images.
the play’s central theme – the ephemeral nature of memory – is highlighted by the recurring phrase, “All pictures will disappear,” projected onto the white walls. The production prompts reflection on how we remember: through personal experience, photographs, or repeated narratives. The evening culminates in a party of memories, the actors, and the music of Arne Bischoff’s band.
One young attendee remarked on the production’s clarity, noting that it served as a reminder to “enjoy the moment and celebrate it.”
More Details
Event Details
“The Years”: Theater Evening Celebrates Memory
Jette Steckel’s adaptation of annie Ernaux’s “The Years” at the Thalia Theater serves as a farewell to director Joachim Lux.
- Date:
- location:
- Thalia Theater
Alstertor
20095 Hamburg
Keywords
Theater
Thalia Theater Bids Farewell to joachim Lux with “The Years”
What was the Hamburg Thalia Theater celebrating on May 18, 2025?
The hamburg Thalia Theater celebrated the end of an era with the premiere of Jette Steckel’s adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s ”The Years” on May 18, 2025. This event served as a fitting farewell to outgoing director Joachim Lux.
Why was “The Years” chosen for this farewell performance?
Jette Steckel’s choice of Annie Ernaux’s “The Years” was particularly apt. The play is a Nobel Prize-winning “collective autobiography” that spans from 1940 to 2000. It explores themes of memory, societal change, adn the interplay between individual and collective experiences.
What is “The Years” about?
“The years” is a “collective autobiography” that examines the life of a woman from 1940 to 2000. the play explores how experiences are woven together to shape not just the life of one individual, but the fabric of society.
How did Jette steckel stage the adaptation of “The Years”?
Steckel’s staging of “The Years” involved several key elements:
Ensemble: A core group of six actors,wearing similar brown wigs,embodied Annie ernaux at different stages of her life.
Visuals: The production incorporated personal photographs and video projections to contextualize individual moments within past events. These included footage of John F. Kennedy,the student protests of 1968,and the women’s rights movement.
Set Design: The set design by Florian Lösche featured large, clear walls that could be opened and closed, emphasizing the interplay between individual and collective memory.
Music: A live band accompanied the performance, contributing to the overall atmosphere.
What is the central theme of Steckel’s adaptation?
The central theme of the play is the ephemeral nature of memory. The recurring phrase “All pictures will disappear,” projected onto the white walls, underscored this theme.
What did the audience think of the performance?
The premiere concluded with a standing ovation, signaling unanimous approval from the audience. Attendees remarked on the production’s clarity and its power to prompt reflection on how