Nathan der Weise
- Location:
- Altes Schauspielhaus, Kleine Königstr. 9, 70178 Stuttgart
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing *Nathan the Wise*: A Dramatic Poem in Five Acts
See Gottfried Breitfuß as Nathan the Wise in Lessing’s play of the same name about the equality of all people and the equal standing of the world’s major religions.
During the time of the Crusades, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism come into direct contact in Jerusalem. There lives the wealthy Jewish merchant Nathan, who is esteemed for his wisdom. During a fire, his daughter Recha is rescued—of all people—by a Christian Templar who has himself just been pardoned by the Muslim Sultan Saladin.
In response to the Sultan’s subtle question about which is the true religion, Nathan delivers a moving plea for the equal coexistence of religions through his now-famous “Parable of the Ring.”
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing’s masterpiece of the German Enlightenment is directed by Stuttgart-based director Catja Baumann.
Gottfried Breitfuß plays the title role. The well-known theater and film actor was a member of the ensemble at the Staatstheater Stuttgart from 1993 to 2005 and appeared over 250 times alongside Ernst Konarek in the legendary production of “India.”
To this day, Lessing’s 1779 play on tolerance and humanity has lost none of its relevance.
Performances October 30 through December 5, 2026
Starring Gottfried Breitfuß, Tillmann Depping, Marius Hubel, Selda Falke, Stefanie Klimkait, Marc-Philipp Kochendorf, Marie-Luise Kuntze
Directed by Catja Baumann
Set and Costumes by Gwendolyn Bahr
Music by Adrian Sieber
Dramaturgy by Susanne Schmitt