January 2013 sees Karl Zuckmayer’s satire, The Captain of Köpenick, open at the Olivier Theatre on London’s West End. Set in 1910 Berlin and first produced in 1931, the play is based on a bizarre set of true events that saw a petty criminal take on the guise of a Prussian Captain and take control of the Berlin town of Potsdam’s treasury.
The play starts with petty criminal, Wilhelm Voigt upon his release from a fifteen year stay in prison. A bureaucratic nightmare enshrouds him and he’s forces to stalk the streets in Berlin in search of identity papers to prove his very existence and recognition. However, what he finds is an old curiosity shop that delivers him the Captain’s finery that enables him to take on his new role and command the town to his will.
Voigt will be played by South African born British actor Antony Sher (he was the head Weasel in the 1996 film adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, and has a 37 year history in theatre, so he should be perfect for the role). The adaptation of the Zuckmayer play for the Olivier Theatre has been written by Ron Hutchinson and will be directedby Adrian Noble.
It will also star Sandy Batchelor, Paul Bentall, Jason Cheater, Paul Chequer, Alan David, Robert Demeger, James Hayes, Barnaby Kay, David Killick, Siobhán McSweeney, Nick Malinowski, Anthony O’Donnell, Olivia Poulet, Iris Roberts, Nick Sampson, Adrian Schiller, Robin Weaver, Joseph Wilkins and Lynne Wilmot.
Opening for previews from the 29th January 2013, The The Captain of Köpenick has a full launch on the 5th February and is set to run through until the 4th April 2013. Tickets range from as little as £12.70 to £49.80 for orchestra stalls and circle seating. To book tickets visit Ticketmaster.co.uk.
