The Last Summer in Bochum: A summer story with political resonance
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The Last Summer: A summer idyll feeling the approaching winter
On November 7, 2026, The Last Summer will premiere at the Kammerspiele of Schauspielhaus Bochum. The production by Mathias Spaan loosely follows Kurt Tucholsky's narrative Schloss Gripsholm and takes the audience into a seemingly carefree vacation world, whose lightness is increasingly overshadowed by the political tensions of the late Weimar Republic.
Vacation between lake, sun, and political weather conditions
Mariefred in Sweden: green meadows, a blue lake, Gripsholm Castle, and the idea of being able to leave the news outside for a moment. Between rowing, summer heat, schnapps, and carefree closeness, an atmosphere of cheerful freedom emerges. However, the idyll remains fragile. Beneath the bright surface, the political winter is already looming.
Tucholsky's summer story as a contemporary production
The dramaturgy connects Tucholsky's literary original with letters, newspaper clippings, and contemporary voices. This creates a theater evening that combines narrative, documentary material, and political reflection. The direction questions how much lightness a person may allow themselves when the signs of the time are already indicating a change.
Stage art between lightness and threat
The set design by Anna Armann and the costumes by Paula de la Haye create a scenic space where vacation feeling and societal unrest meet. Live music by Tom Gatza sets its own accents and intensifies the changing lighting mood between summer warmth and growing tension. The acting of Konstantin Bühler, Linde Dercon, and Payam Yazdani carries this tension arc with great presence.
A political barometer of the interwar period
Kurt Tucholsky observed his time with a sharp eye. In August 1929, the historical backdrop of the action, the NSDAP is gaining increasing influence. The production does not turn this constellation into a museum reflection but poses a contemporary stage question: What happens when a society recognizes the warning signs and yet clings to a sense of normality?
Conclusion: A stage experience with an echo
The Last Summer promises a sensual and politically aware theater experience. The performance connects literary original, acting, live music, and documentary text elements into an evening that does not pit summer freedom against societal responsibility but confronts both experiences with each other. Anyone who wants to experience theater as a resonance space for history and the present should witness this premiere live at the Kammerspiele Bochum.
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