Articles> Review: Deutsches Theater Göttingen presents the classic children’s book “Ronja the Robber’s Daughter” on stage

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The children’s book by Astrid Lindgren-Ronga The Robber’s Daughter was published in 1981. To date, the book has been translated into many languages ​​and is known all over the world. Barbara Haas made Lindgren’s novel suitable for the stage and so the story begins before the eyes of the audience: the story of a girl born in Matiswald on a terrible stormy night. Matiswald, because the Matisse thieves live here. As you can already guess, their leader is Robber Captain Mathis. Little Ronja learns a lot from her parents, but also has to create her own experiences. So you go off trying to be careful of everything possible. According to her father, Mattis, the Borca thieves are especially dangerous. During her travels through the jungle, Ronja encounters many creepy creatures and a boy. Without a doubt, the two became friends. What Ronja doesn’t know: The boy is Burka Burka, Burka Burka’s son and her father’s sworn enemy. Everything goes out when Ronja’s father captures Berk. Ronja doesn’t like it at all. She defends herself against her father’s tutelage and machinations and leaves Matisburg. Together with Berk you start a life in the jungle. Ronja’s father asks her to come back soon. But what condition can be associated with recurrence?

Directed by Theo Franz, the audience at the German Theater is treated to spirited stage design. The narrator, who is also part of the play, leads the story. Mattesburg is the main backdrop in the middle of the woods, and the smallest changes in scenery lead to local changes. Runga the Robber’s Daughter plays with robber story ideas. The nature of the piece becomes apparent through the lively theatrical performance in the middle of the forest. Individual scenes and characters also lead to a mystical or magical reference in the piece. For example, the so-called “dark people” of the forest scares Ronia for a few moments. Bandit Captain Mattis initially fits the cliché of a tough leader. The play is comic but well executed through the use of many satirical scenes and behaviour. Normally, strength and leadership would be expected of a heterosexual leader like Mattis. However, individual scenes make the captain look weak and childish. For example when he almost got on his knees telling Ronja to go back to Matisburg. Sometimes Ronja is portrayed as more mature than her father, Mattis, during the play. Children in particular should enjoy the clumsy and lively shapes. However, the play “Ronja the Robber’s Daughter” differs from the story of the “ordinary” robber in another respect. Emotions play a major role. This statement is particularly evident to the viewer in the growing friendship between Berk and Ronja. But also in the behavior between Ronja and her father, Mattis. At the same time, the father-daughter relationship mirrors Ronja’s rebellious behavior. Suspicious of the machinations of her group of thieves, Ronja defies her father’s orders. As a family theatre, “Ronja the Robber’s Daughter” is definitely worth a visit. The piece plays with the clichés of the thief’s story yet is a little different. The scenery in the German theater and the presentation of the scenes, especially for the young guests, were particularly convincing.