Premiere of Schickelgruber: Puppet show about Hitler's last days in Vienna!

Premiere of Schickelgruber: Puppet show about Hitler's last days in Vienna!

Things will be particularly exciting at the Theater in der Josefstadt on September 25, 2025, because that is when the puppet show production “Schickelgruber” celebrates its premiere. This co-production with the Deutsches Theater Berlin deals with Adolf Hitler's last days in the Führerbunker and promises to captivate the audience with grotesque puppets and a bizarre production. The play, by Neville Tranter and Jan Veldman, focuses on Hitler's 56th birthday on April 20, 1945 and the chaotic final hours leading up to his suicide on April 30, 1945. Onlinemerker reports that Hitler, Eva Braun, Joseph Goebbels as well as Hermann Göring and the Goebbels children act as characters.

The co-director is the renowned puppeteer Neville Tranter, who is not only known for his many years of experience but also maintains a close friendship with Nikolaus Habjan. Habjan is a fixture in Vienna and recently staged an impressive production of “Fidelio” at the State Opera. Reviews from Berlin praise the performances of the actors, especially Habjan and Manuela Linshalm, although the cognitive value of the piece is considered to be rather low. Die Deutsche Bühne notes that the use of life-sized mouth puppets serves to illustrate the absurdity of the situation in the bunker as the Allied artillery approaches.

A bizarre look at history

“Schickelgruber” is a kind of “Rocky Horror Bunker Show” that deals with the grotesque and tragic end of a dictator. With special attention to the characterization, Habjan and Linshalm bring the puppets to life: Hitler's valet Heinz Linge is played by Habjan, while Linshalm embodies the nanny Martha. The characters' quirks are brought to life through different voices and postures, giving the viewer a unique experience. Deutschestheater highlights how the piece draws attention to the megalomania and absurdities of Hitler's last days.

Speaking of megalomania: Hitler is displayed with a candle on a birthday cake and shows how reality and illusion mix in the piece. A creepy-looking death in a yellow magician's robe is also introduced, adding to the magical atmosphere of the piece. The connection between illusion and reality is constantly discussed and gives the viewer a lot to think about.

A look into the past

The title “Schickelgruber” itself refers to Aloys Schicklgruber, who was born in 1837 and changed his name to Alois Hitler in 1876. The historical context also gives the piece a deeper dimension as it illuminates the human and tragic aspects of a dark era. The puppet show is not only grotesque and bizarre, but also deals with the theme of death, which stops at no one.

With the upcoming premiere, theatergoers can look forward to an emotional, thoughtful and humorous piece that illuminates the shadows of history in a special way. “Schickelgruber” is eagerly awaited, and the production promises to be an event that will be remembered for a long time.