Berlin's Schaubühne returns to Shanghai with Thomas Ostermeier's stage adaptation of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's landmark film The Marriage of Maria Braun. Led by Ursina Lardi, the production follows one woman's life in post-war West Germany, where personal ambition and national history become inseparable.

About the Performance

Adapted from Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 1979 film, The Marriage of Maria Braun is the first work in his celebrated BRD Trilogy. The story follows Maria Braun, who marries Hermann during the final days of World War II. Soon after their wedding, Hermann returns to the front and disappears. As Germany rebuilds after the war, Maria struggles to survive, and an unexpected reunion changes the course of her life.

For his 2009 Schaubühne production, director Thomas Ostermeier reimagined the film for the stage while preserving its narrative structure. Rather than reproducing the film, he translates its cinematic language into theatrical form through staging, movement, period furnishings, historical projections, and fluid role changes by the cast. The production explores the reconstruction of post-war West Germany while examining the personal costs hidden beneath the country's economic recovery.

Since 2024, Schaubühne Berlin has appeared at YOUNG Theatre's Autumn International Theatre Season for three consecutive years. Previous productions including Hamlet, The Father, Michael Kohlhaas, and Richard III have been presented in Shanghai.

Cast & Creatives

Ursina Lardi — Maria Braun

Swiss actress Ursina Lardi leads the production as Maria Braun. A regular performer with Schaubühne Berlin, she returns to Shanghai after appearing in Everywoman. Her portrayal follows Maria through the years of post-war reconstruction, as the character's ambitions, compromises, and resilience unfold alongside the changing fortunes of West Germany.

Thomas Ostermeier — Director

Thomas Ostermeier is the artistic director of Schaubühne Berlin. His productions span both classic and contemporary theatre, and this adaptation of The Marriage of Maria Braun premiered at Schaubühne in 2009 before touring internationally, including appearances at the Festival d'Avignon.

Creative Team

• Based on the film by: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
• Director: Thomas Ostermeier
• Set Design: Nina Wetzel
• Costume Design: Ulrike Gutbrod
• Video Design: Sebastian Dupouey
• Music: Nils Ostendorf
• Dramaturgy: Juliane Lochte

The production also features four male actors who collectively perform more than twenty roles throughout the play.

Why Go

This production brings together two influential figures in German theatre and cinema: filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder and director Thomas Ostermeier. Rather than recreating the original film shot for shot, Ostermeier transforms it into a theatrical work that examines post-war Germany through the experiences of one woman. For audiences interested in contemporary European theatre or stage adaptations of classic films, it offers a chance to see one of Schaubühne Berlin's signature productions in Shanghai.