Howling Dogs

Adapted from the "German Literary Miracle"
Based on the work by Ingeborg Bachmann
A Collaborative Production by China, Austria, and Germany
Presented at the 8th Nanluoguxiang Theater Festival
A Five-Act Play Performed by Five Actors
In Chinese with English Subtitles

Synopsis

A psychology professor who loves bonsai trees more than people.

A young woman, 40 years younger than her husband, desperately seeking harmony in two fractured families.

A brilliant geologist educated in Dubai and Paris, now reinvented as a master shaver in a peculiar Beijing barbershop.

An 86-year-old woman living alone in a dark, cramped hutong house surrounded by junk.

And a mysterious patient from Germany.

A Unique Blend of Cultures and Art Forms

German directing techniques.

Austrian literary text paired with neo-classical music.

Chinese humor.

Modern Latin American dance.

Syrian special effects makeup.

Howling Dogs is a suspenseful and emotionally charged drama, combining satire and reflection, music and dance. It seamlessly blends comedy and tragedy, philosophy and psychology. At times hilariously absurd, at others heartbreakingly poignant, it invites the audience to laugh, cry, and uncover the mysteries behind Howling Dogs, exploring what it truly means to love.

A Cross-Cultural Journey in Theater

For German directors, translating a story into new contexts, cities, and cultures has long been a tradition. Howling Dogs continues this legacy under the guidance of its young German playwright and director, Raimund Rosarius, who has trained in Germany, Austria, and China. Passionate about integrating the elements of these three cultures into his productions, Rosarius combines different directing traditions to craft a truly intercultural experience.

In this project, he collaborates with professional Chinese actors and an international team of theater artists to embark on a cross-cultural journey. Together, they seek to illuminate “the familiar in the unfamiliar” and “the unfamiliar in the familiar,” creating a space for deep artistic exchange.

Themes and Experimentation

Howling Dogs is both a family suspense drama and a societal tragedy. It explores the intricate web of family relationships, a recurring motif in Ingeborg Bachmann’s essays and works. The play addresses issues such as aging, secrecy, and intergenerational responsibilities, all deeply rooted in societal histories.

Through an experimental lens, the production transplants these themes, conflicts, and events into a Chinese social context, asking the audience to reflect on how universal struggles manifest in different cultures. In its core message, the play suggests: Ah Q is you.

Production Team

Cast: Wang Zhijuan, Xu Wei, Chen Zhen, Wu Junqing, Raimund Rosarius

Playwright/Director: Raimund Rosarius (Germany)

Producers: Susanne Matz (Germany), Wang Chao

Dramaturg: Li Li

Composer: Scharmien Zandi(Austria)

Choreography: Eder Espinoza(Chile)

Set Designer: Li Kaiyue

Lighting Designer/Stage Manager: Wang Zhaoyu

Props Designer/Assistant Director: Li Chao

Assistant Dramaturg/Subtitles: Nina Dillenz (Austria)

Director’s Assistant: Zhu Qingyu

Poster Designers: Johanna Stauffenberg-Williams (Germany), Jiao Jian