Untersberg

What do a musical theatre student and a priest have in common? On the surface, not much. In Anaïs Clerc’s new commissioned work for the Salzburg State Theatre, these two unlikely companions – student Laura and priest Frank – cross paths during a hike on the Untersberg. Driven by prejudice, they clash almost instantly. Their ways part, but what seems like a random encounter soon turns out to be fate – perhaps even a meeting that was meant to happen.

At the same time, deep inside the mountain, Empress Karla awakens to find that the ravens no longer circle above the peaks. With her helper, the “Untersberg Human,” she observes with concern the state of the mountain. The walls of the Kolowrat Cave are dripping, everything is flowing, landslides are on the rise, and time is running out. Determined to rethink the “final battle,” the powerful Empress summons Laura and Frank. Time begins to blur, and the two must learn what it truly means to listen to one another and meet without prejudice. But what do they have to do with this battle? What binds them together? How can one take a stand in a world increasingly divided into extremes? What does it mean today to be human? And what do the fallen ravens – the people of Salzburg – have to say about it?

Anaïs Clerc writes about humanity in demanding times and about the ecological changes that also affect the Untersberg. With sharp wit and striking imagery, she creates a play that circles around life’s big questions and invites the audience to engage with the pressing realities of our time.

The award-winning young playwright Anaïs Clerc is now performed at many renowned theatres. The Swiss writer (“attempts at teacher training and social pedagogy / everyone wanted to become something, Anaïs found it hard enough just to be”) lives in Berlin and Zurich. She enjoys collaborative processes and developing new works. She was writer-in-residence at the Bern Theatre and is currently working on her first novel.

Sarah Henker studied at the Institute for Applied Theatre Studies in Gießen and has directed several productions at the Salzburg State Theatre, including "We Should All Be Feminists", "Die Räuber", "How to Do Everything Right in Life" and "The Wolf Must Go!". Her work often centers on contemporary social debates. She has enjoyed a long-standing collaboration with Salzburg-based stage designer Eva Musil.

Duration: 1 h 20 min, no intermission