Written by Israeli-German playwright Sivan Ben Yishai and directed by Anica Tomić, the play shifts focus away from the well-known protagonist Nora Helmer to the marginal characters who surround her—the housekeeper Helene, the nanny Anne-Marie, and the postman. Rather than merely supporting Nora’s dramatic arc, these characters are given a voice and the narrative space to reflect on the invisible structures that sustain bourgeois domestic life.

The play questions not only gender roles but also class privilege and the societal mechanisms that uphold them. As the “manor” metaphorically decays, the silent workers of the household are seen as the ones who must compost its remains—turning collapse into fertile ground for something new. The dark humor and sharp commentary earned the production praise for its thought-provoking writing and unconventional perspective.

The event was introduced by a representative of the Norwegian Embassy, who emphasized the importance of supporting contemporary Nordic voices and fostering cultural dialogue in Berlin. It forms part of the embassy’s broader initiative to spotlight innovative interpretations of Nordic heritage, particularly those that challenge traditional narratives and promote social reflection.

The performance is part of the ongoing summer program at Deutsches Theater and reflects the growing presence of Nordic cultural diplomacy in Germany, championing art that is at once political, poetic, and deeply human.

• https://www.deutschestheater.de/programm/produktionen/nora-oder-wie-man-das-herrenhaus-kompostiert
• https://www.nordischebotschaften.org