The Verdict

In the face of conflicts and polarisation, how does a society arrive at a common verdict? What can lead a person to reassess deeply held convictions and open their minds to the arguments and experiences of others? These are just some of the questions at the heart of the joint production “The Verdict” by the Staatstheater Cottbus and the German-speaking ensemble of the Romanian Radu Stanca National Theatre in Sibiu. The production showcases a jury comprised of members from varying social backgrounds, political opinions, European languages and religious beliefs who struggle to find common ground and arrive at a verdict.

The performances of “The Verdict” at the Staatstheater Cottbus will be accompanied by the “Canteen Compass” format. In the theatre canteen, the audience will be invited to reflect on, laugh and sing about the legacy and future of regions undergoing structural transformation. The programme will feature stories of people from the Lausitz and Ruhr regions, as well as Central and Eastern Europe, accompanied by musicians and presented in varying audience formats.
“The Verdict” is funded through General Project Funding by the German Federal Cultural Foundation and will be performed in 2027 and 2028 at the Staatstheater Cottbus and the Radu Stanca National Theatre in Romania.

Artistic directors: Anica Happich, Petra Ratiu, Olga Fedyanina
Stage director: Timofej Kuljabin
Dramaturge: Roman Dolzhansky
Premieres: Staatstheater Cottbus, Cottbus: 20 Mar. 2027; Nationaltheater Radu Stanca, Sibiu: 25 Mar. 2027 
Additional performances: Staatstheater Cottbus, Cottbus: 21 Mar. 2027; Radu Stanca National Theatre, Sibiu: 26 Mar. 2027