The new play ‘Likedeeler’ tells a previously unknown twist: Klaus Störtebeker and Gödeke Michels, usually inseparable friends, get into a fight. The trigger is the question of whether they should get involved with arms dealers in their fight for justice. Director Louis Villinger explained: ‘Should we now shift weapons or not? And from when should weapons be shifted or not? They have different opinions on this, and the quarrel becomes so big that they even fight with swords.’
The stage set shows the besieged fortress of Stockholm on the left, and the morally decayed Wismar on the right – described by the director as ‘Gotham City of the Middle Ages.’ The arms dealer Jean Fourrier sells weapons to everyone, regardless of their morality. Michels considers this legitimate to fill the coffers of the Vitalienbrüder, while Störtebeker rejects it. The lead role is again played by Moritz Stephan. It is his fifth season at the Störtebeker Festspiele. Playing the rift between the Vitalienbrüder is a rewarding role for him. ‘Because it’s always nice when you don’t play straightforwardly, but can incorporate breaks and the character can develop. Besides, it’s also a development for the friendship between the two,’ explains the lead actor.
The play will be shown 67 times from June 20 to September 5, 2026, on the lake stage in Ralswiek. 15 actors and 150 minor performers are involved, including ballad singer Wolfgang Lippert. Director Louis Villinger brings pace to the production. ‘We have found that it does good to have short scenes and then switch to something else – to a different playing temperature, for example. So from funny to a bit more melancholic and then serious and sharp,’ he emphasizes.
Source: www.ndr.de
