Ronald Harwood’s “Prendre Partit” (Taking Sides), in the Teatre Goya
Directed by Josep Maria Pou, the play is set in Germany shortly after the end of WWII and offers a reflection on the relationship between culture and power
Written in 1995 by Ronald Harwood, Taking Sides examines one of the denazification cases that took place in Germany just after the end of the Second World War, at the time when the anti-Nazi commission for artists was fully involved in the preparation of its upcoming trials.
The case in question concerns orchestra director and composer Wilhelm Furtwängler, who decided to stay in Germany when the Nazis seized power instead of emigrating to other countries like others in his profession.
In the play, Wilhelm Furtwängler, played by Josep Maria Pou, is subjected to interrogation by commander Steve Arnold, one of the civil servants of the new government entrusted with bringing to trial former collaborators of the Hitler regime. By means of conversations held between Furtwängler and Arnold, the play offers a series of reflections on the relationship between culture and power and art and politics and brings to the stage concepts such as commitment and indifference.
Prendre Partit (Taking Sides) stars Josep Maria Pou, who also directs, Andrés Herrera, Sandra Monclús, Anna Alarcón, Pepo Blasco and Sergi Torrecilla. The production is by Focus and the translation into Catalan is the work of Ernest Riera.
Prendre partit.
Until 1 February 2015, from Tuesday to Friday at 20:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 18 and 21 at 18 pm.
Tickets: 28 €
Teatre Goya