Skanderbeg's Helmet: A political thriller on the stage of the National Theater!

Skanderbeg's Helmet: A political thriller on the stage of the National Theater!

Albania's desire for membership in the European Union is a central theme of the new stage play "The Enlargement", which is celebrating its premiere at the National Theater Mannheim. Robert Menasse's novel serves as the basis for the production, which is directed by Anna-Elisabeth Frick. The novel addresses the complex conflicts that accompany Albania's desire to join, and also shows the historical and political tensions within Europe. Albania aims to join the EU, which leads to turbulent conflicts in the play.

A crucial element of the plot is the theft of the golden helmet of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, which is exhibited in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and is considered an Albanian national shrine. The helmet, which is made of gilded bronze and depicts a goat's head, symbolizes the divine power of the owner and therefore becomes the central object of desire. The Albanian prime minister and the opposition leader are both interested in the helmet, while Fate Vasa, an advisor in the Albanian cabinet, hatches the plan to retrieve the helmet.

Conflicts and political intrigues

In “The Enlargement,” Menasse also addresses the contradictions in European history, including the veneration of the folk hero Skanderbeg, who fought against the Ottomans in the 15th century. The political situation escalates when the helmet is stolen under questionable circumstances, causing chaos that threatens to destabilize the political structures. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz is also torpedoing Albania's admission to the EU, which is bringing the EU's complex expansion plans to the fore.

The production at the National Theater includes a variety of artistic contributions. The stage is designed by Martha-Marie Pinsker, while Sophie Lichtenberg is responsible for the costumes. Daniel Scheunemann is responsible for the lighting design, and the background music comes from Hannes Strobl. Ted Stoffer takes care of the choreography and Annabelle Leschke takes care of the dramaturgy. The actors include Matthias Breitenbach, Maria Helena Bretschneider, Rocco Brück, Maria Munkert, Paul Simon and Sandro Šutalo.

Emotional connections in Europe

The novel and the stage adaptation also take up personal stories, such as those of two Polish friends who take different political paths. Amid the political complications, transnational love stories unfold that illuminate the emotional bonds in Europe and raise the question of what European integration actually means. The play culminates in a showdown on a cruise where heads of government and EU representatives have to find new ways to resolve the conflicts.

The first performances of the play will take place on May 21, 2025, a special date on the theater agenda. Further dates are scheduled for May 27th and June 14th, 2025, each with a follow-up discussion after the performance. The adaptation of “Enlargement” brings an important work about Europe to the stage - a work that stimulates reflection on the challenges and opportunities of our shared future. TheaterKompass reports, that the story illuminates the impact of European integration on the realities of people's lives, while SWR emphasizes, that Menasse remains faithful to his literary and political project.