The Dragon
Too True and Too Tragic for a Fairy-Tale Comedy
A Play by Jewgeni Schwarz
18.04.2026 20 p.m.
19.04.2026 19 p.m.
And once again, we have found what we search for anew each year—namely, something we haven't done before. However, the story itself should be quite familiar to most:
There is this city, and in it lives a dragon. Actually, he has always been there, or at least for many hundreds of years. The dragon is as big as a church, has steel-hard scales, three fire-breathing heads, and huge sharp claws—the full package. So far, so familiar. But this dragon is also a brilliant strategist, a friend to the people, and an exceedingly benevolent protector of the city. He protects them from diseases, migrants, and above all, from other dragons. For the only way to be spared from dragons is to have a dragon of one's own. (So says the dragon.)
Furthermore: The tales of the population's last attempt to rise up against the dragon are simply too horrific. A revolt—not a good idea. Not good at all. What are a thousand cows, two thousand sheep, five thousand chickens, and two hundredweight of salt per month for a life of peace and security? And in summer and autumn, ten gardens' worth of lettuce, asparagus, and cauliflower on top? A more than fair price for a proper city where nothing ever happens. And the one maiden per year whom the dragon is allowed to choose? She can actually feel honored. (She almost does.)
One can already guess how the story continues: Enter Lancelot, by trade a hero (specializations: dragons, women), who cannot quite comprehend this equation and who would much rather know that the currently selected maiden—while perhaps not a maiden in the long term—is at least alive. Against all sage advice from the populace, he challenges the dragon to a fight...
But here begins the part of the story that is rarely told: What actually happens when neither party emerges from such a battle as the victor?
If "The Dragon" is assigned to a genre, it is usually labeled a "fairy-tale comedy," but for a fairy tale, we unfortunately find it a bit too true. And we are not entirely sure: Does one really just want to scream because it is screamingly funny?
Let's find out together!
Featuring:
David Kohlleppel as Lancelot
Sigrid Kamman as The Cat
Raimund Elfering as Elsa
Vinzenz Stenkamp as Charlemagne
Lasse Lohmann as The Dragon
Heike Schmies as The Mayor
Nina Brinkoch as Heinrich
Direction & Music: Yuriy Bartenev