»NATHAN THE WISE« by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

NATHAN THE WISE 
A Dramatic Poem in Five Acts
By Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

» Are Christian and Jew Christian and Jew before They are human beings?«

Jerusalem, 12th century, during the times of the third crusade: The Jew Nathan returns from a business trip. During his absence his house has burnt down and his daughter Recha survived by some miracle. A Christian Templar saved the young woman from the flames.  When Nathan wants to thank him in person, he reacts harshly. As a Christian he does not want to associate with a Jew. But since he is actually a sensitive, smart man he does not close himself off to Nathan’s arguments: that they are both human beings first and members of specific religions second. 
When the Templar meets Recha again, he falls in love with her and asks Nathan for her hand in marriage. But why is Nathan avoiding him now? 
Daja, the Jew’s servant girl, discloses to him eventually that Recha is only Nathan’s adoptive daughter and actually a Christian herself. This revelation incenses the Templar and he informs his spiritual leader, the Patriarch. For the Patriarch the situation is clear: the kidnapping of a Christian child from its religious community is punishable by death. 
Meanwhile sultan Saladin has summoned Nathan who is praised as wise everywhere. He asks Nathan which religion he believes to be the one true religion. Thereupon Nathan tells him parable of a ring with the ability to make one popular before God and humans alike. 
The »Ring Parable« is one of the most important pleas for the equality of the world religions in the history of literature. A religion has to live its values for the present. Its survival is bound to its rootage in humanistic actions, in lived social practice.

Lessings Nathan is considered the made flesh idea of tolerance and altruism. He is human, has loved and suffered in his life, and has been shaped by a multitude of terrible experiences. Nathan knows: there is no alternative to sensibility. He embodies the enlightened human who trusts his mind and tries to convince others to use theirs. 
That is why »Nathan the Wise« is classified as one of the major works of the Enlightenment. The peaceful cooperation of cultures and religions, and the understanding of each other is existential and also one of the main challenges of our time. 
In 2008 Axel Vornam openend his directorship of Theater Heilbronn with »Nathan the Wise« ─ back then directed by Alejandro Quintana. Now, 18 years later, he is resurveying the play for its topicality and connections to today. 

Please use THIS LINK  to purchase tickets online (look for Keine Filter gesetzt, then to Alle Produktionen and choose Nathan der Weise from the list to see all available dates) or contact our box office by phone at 07131 56 3001 or via e-mail kasse@theater-hn.de.

You can also reach our box office during the following opening hours:
Monday and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm and Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 7 pm.

In the main auditorium, Großes Haus, we recommend booking from the 8th row for the surtitles service. Please inquire about this offer directly with our box office staff.