Name: The Eighth Life (For Brilka)
Start: 2026-05-09T20:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-10T01:00:00+02:00
Location: Metropoltheater

A Georgian family epic that unfolds its full force in Munich

With The Eighth Life (For Brilka), the Metropoltheater Munich presents one of the major contemporary works on stage on May 9, 2026: a century-spanning novel by Nino Haratischwili, condensed into an intense theater evening about memory, power, loss, and resistance. The direction by Jochen Schölch tells the story of the Jaschi family, of the upheavals in Georgia and the Soviet Union, and of the scars that history leaves on bodies and biographies. The performance is scheduled for 6:30 PM and lasts approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes, including intermission, according to the theater. ([metropoltheater.com](https://www.metropoltheater.com/spielplan/stueck-details/das-achte-leben-fuer-brilka-240/))

An ensemble evening with epic tension

Even the novel is a monument: six generations, political upheavals, private catastrophes, and brief moments of happiness. The Metropoltheater opts for a stage adaptation that does not shy away from the grand narrative arc. The theatrical atmosphere thrives on ensemble strength, rapid character changes, and a precise approach to dramaturgy. Schölch's production shapes the material into an evening that intertwines historical dimension with personal vulnerability. The theater itself describes the evening as a century, portrayed as captivating and compelling as a classical tragedy. ([metropoltheater.com](https://www.metropoltheater.com/spielplan/stueck-details/das-achte-leben-fuer-brilka-240/))

Set design, light, and the art of remembering

The production relies on a clear theatrical signature: set by Thomas Flach, costumes by Nicole Dannecker-Jötten, lighting by Hans-Peter Boden, and video/sound by Martin Hermann. These crafts contribute to the narrative not merely as decoration but as part of the dramaturgy. Especially with material that thrives on upheavals, war, adaptation, and revolt, tension arises from the interplay of image and language. The result promises a stage experience that not only tells but makes the story physically palpable. ([metropoltheater.com](https://www.metropoltheater.com/spielplan/stueck-details/das-achte-leben-fuer-brilka-240/))

An evening between pain, dignity, and hope

At the center is Niza, who writes the family history for her niece Brilka. From this grows a theatrical text about responsibility toward the past. Haratischwili's source takes the audience through major political events and intimate trials, and the Munich adaptation apparently holds this tension until the end. The theater also references sensitive content, including physical violence. For the audience, this creates not an easy but an intense, emotional evening that resonates and makes the theatrical reaction in the hall palpably felt. ([metropoltheater.com](https://www.metropoltheater.com/spielplan/stueck-details/das-achte-leben-fuer-brilka-240/))

What the reviews suggest

Previous press reviews describe the production as an event and praise the impact of the strong ensemble as well as the ease with which the heavy material is handled. This indicates a production that combines grand form with joy in performance without smoothing over the historical burden. It is exactly in this that lies the special power of this theater evening: big themes, clear images, precise acting. ([metropoltheater.com](https://www.metropoltheater.com/spielplan/stueck-details/das-achte-leben-fuer-brilka-240/))

Conclusion: A theater evening for an audience seeking depth

The Eighth Life (For Brilka) at the Metropoltheater Munich promises an intense, literarily challenging, and emotionally dense stage experience. Those who engage in a long, rich, and carefully composed theater will witness a performance that connects historical breadth with human closeness. Take the opportunity now to experience this exceptional epic live. ([metropoltheater.com](https://www.metropoltheater.com/spielplan/stueck-details/das-achte-leben-fuer-brilka-240/))