Frankenstein

Theater am Domhof
Premiere: October 10, 2026

For over 200 years, Frankenstein has been regarded as the (pop)cultural benchmark for human and male hubris. Even today, the novel surprises readers with its ambivalence, which on the one hand allows us to understand Victor Frankenstein’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge, and on the other hand awakens empathy for the hideous, unloved creature he created—a creature that is not inherently evil.

Mary Shelley wrote the novel in 1816, the infamous “Year Without a Summer,” when a volcanic eruption in Indonesia darkened the skies over Europe for several months and permanently altered the world as it was then. Today, there are countless ways to interpret the romantic horror story of Frankenstein and his creature in the context of our present day.

What does Frankenstein tell us about transcending boundaries? In what ways is it a feminist critique, and where might it also fail to address how to approach the spirit of scientific inquiry responsibly?

The team led by Katharina Schmidt and Roman Konieczny, who are working at the Theater Osnabrück for the third time, explores Mary Shelley’s era, the story of creator and creature, as well as its resonance that extends to the present day.

“Presenting this multifaceted material today and playing with the genres of drama, horror, and science fiction is both a challenge and a pleasure for us.”

Katharina Schmidt and Roman Konieczny