2024

Staatstheater Cottbus

A Multidisciplinary work based off of E.T.A Hoffman’s short story of the same name

E. T. A. Hoffmann's horror tale tells the story of the student Nathanael, who is haunted by a trauma from his childhood. A series of strange events occur which seem to be connected to the death of Nathanael's father. The Sandman appears, sometimes as a demon, sometimes as an invention of Nathanael's childish self. Nathanael seems to fall under the spell, falls in love with a doll and ultimately brings his own life to a tragic end.

E. T. A. Hoffmann is considered one of the most important representatives of German Romanticism. He achieved posthumous world fame in the mid-19th century, particularly with his mystically eerie tales. His most famous story is probably “The Sandman”.

In Cottbus, the US-American composer duo The McDaniel Brothers, choreographer Alessia Ruffolo and co-director Philipp Rosendahl combine the stage arts of music, dance and drama. In DER SANDMANN, the ballet and acting ensemble bring Hoffmann's eerie mysticism to the stage in dreamlike, intricate images and explore the limits of our perception in a new way.

This project is being created in collaboration with Cottbus musicians and is kindly supported by the Friends and Sponsors of the Cottbus State Theatre.