How long does the performance last

The performance lasts about 2 hours 50 minutes including one intermission.

Are there any special notes regarding the production

Yes, blank-firing guns and cigarettes are used during the performance.

Is the venue accessible

Yes, the Munich Volkstheater is accessible; Stages 1 and 2 are on the ground floor, an elevator leads to the upper foyer and Stage 3.

How do I reach the theater via public transport

By U3 or U6 to Poccistraße or Goetheplatz; also Bus 58 or 68 to Kapuzinerplatz.

What are the ticket prices

For Stage 1, there are tiered prices; the lowest price category starts at 15 euros, discounts are available.

When does the box office open

The box office usually opens one hour before the performance starts.

Brecht as gangster parable: Arturo Ui unleashes power on Munich's stage

Name: The unstoppable rise of Arturo Ui – Munich Volkstheater
Start: 2026-04-02T21:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-04-03T00:20:00+02:00
Location: Münchner Volkstheater – Bühne 1

Political thriller on stage: Brecht's 'Arturo Ui' unleashes power and morality

At the Munich Volkstheater, Bertolt Brecht's parable play 'The unstoppable rise of Arturo Ui' returns as a gripping theatrical experience. In Christian Stückl's production, the aura of a gangster film and the political parable collide to create a dense theater atmosphere – with precise dramaturgy, a strong ensemble, and striking imagery.

Chicago, cauliflower trust, corruption: A parable with impact

By relocating the story to the gangster milieu of Chicago, Brecht exposes the mechanisms of power, fear, and opportunism. The production makes visible how greed for profit and fascism shake hands – in scenes that light up like film still lifes and inevitably drag the audience into the moral gray area.

Directorial handwriting and acting artistry

Christian Stückl shapes the proceedings with tight direction and clear accents. Anton Nürnberg (Arturo Ui) leads with cold charisma through the steps of power acquisition; the ensemble – including Alexandros Koutsoulis, Cedric Stern, Nils Karsten, Pascal Fligg – paints a multi-voiced panorama of power. Audience reactions productively fluctuate between fascination and discomfort.

Stage design, costumes, lighting: Sensory impressions

Stefan Hageneier's set and costumes create a hybrid Chicago: brick, metal, Art Deco echoes – a space between the show stairway and the backyard. In the lighting mood by David Jäkel, hard spot edges switch with foggy shadows; the acoustics feature music by Tom Zimmer and Max Bloching, working like a pulse and warning signal. The stage experience thrives on clearly composed tableaux in which gestures of power are choreographed effectively.

Dramaturgical classification

Written in 1941 in Finnish exile, 'Arturo Ui' belongs to the repertoire of Epic Theater: alienation effects, addressed moral questions, didactic clarity. The Munich production connects to a rich history of staging and sharply leads Brecht's parable into the present: How does authority arise? Who benefits? What role does silence play?

Fans' voices

The reactions of theater lovers are clear: 'Arturo Ui' captivates the audience.

Instagram: 'A production like a punch – linguistically razor-sharp and visually magnetic!'

Facebook: 'Great acting, gripping direction – an evening that resonates long after.'

Service notes

Duration about 2 hours 50 minutes, one intermission. Note regarding the production: use of blank-firing guns and cigarettes on stage.

Conclusion

An intense theater evening that mercilessly dissects morality, power, and complicity. Anyone who wants to experience uncompromising, visually powerful theater should see this performance live – for a theatrical experience that continues to resonate on the way home.