Valene and Coleman Connor return to their home in the remote west of Ireland, a home that they share in spite of their escalating mutual tyranny. Father Welsh, their only regular visitor, despairs of both the murderous village community and the continual squabbles between the brothers. He drowns his sorrows in poteen which Coleman generously pours for him even though it comes from Valene’s stock. Girleen, a young girl who earns her living by selling poteen, makes sure that there is plenty of it to be had and harbours a secret love for the Father. With this crude cast of characters, Irish author Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, The Banshees of Inisherin, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) juxtaposes isolation and violence with the powerful longing for human connection.
This is the fourth production of company member and director Lukas Holzhausen at Schauspiel Hannover. In 2021, he staged Aufzeichnungen aus dem Kellerloch. Bei nassem Schnee, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky, and the adaption of Christian Baron’s novel Ein Mann seiner Klasse. IKI UND ICH. radikalmensch by Kevin Rittberger followed in 2024; all productions premiered at Ballhof. Ein Mann seiner Klasse was invited to the 2022 Berlin Theatertreffen and was a great success in Hanover, too. In his productions, Lukas Holzhausen often explores complex social dynamics and issues like classism. In February 2025, his production of Der einsame Westen will present his interpretation of a darkly humorous piece.