Gefärliche Liebschaften (Dangerous Liaisons)

Pierre-Ambroise-François Choderlos de Laclos’ epistolary novel has been newly adapted for stage by Marc von Henning, and will celebrate its world premiere within the framework of the Zurich Film Festival at the Theater am Neumarkt.

Premiere: October 3, 20:00
Gala Performance: October 4, 20:00
Further Performances: October 26, 27 and 28, 20:00 respectively, at the Theater am Neumarkt.

Tickets can be obtained directly from the Theater am Neumarkt

With: Anna Maria Eder, Adrian Furrer, Silke Geertz, Meret Hottinger, Thaddäus Meilinger
Text and Direction: Marc von Henning
Props: Polly Hope
Music: David Benke
Dramaturgy: Mario Rauter

Valmont craves Merteuil, Merteuil craves power - over Valmont and all other men. Driven by self-indulgence, revenge, an obsession for power and above all, ambition, the two cast out a net of intrigue within which they hope to make one or two erotic catches.

In a dangerous game, they become enmeshed in cold, calculated strategies, where the only stakes are other humans whom they destroy without scruple. However, when heated passions develop and impede their devilish tactics and erotic moves, both gambler and victim are destroyed in equal measure. Their game is not a game of luck – it is a game of strategy between ambition and jealousy, there are victims to be regretted and collateral damage to be accounted for, borders to cross and territory to conquer.

The novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses has been adapted many times for the stage and film, including in 1988 by Stephen Frears, this year’s Zurich Film Festival laureate. The film received seven Oscar nominations and turned Stephen Frears and John Malkovich into international stars. The adaptation at the Theater am Neumarkt attempts to shine a new and present-day light on the heated, erotic game that develops into a war of strategies - for the players are warriors and their playing field a battleground: love.