Transit – between desire and self-indulgence … A poor fisherman helps a fish who thanks him by offering the fulfilment of a wish. Ilsebill, the fisherman`s wife, raises bigger and bigger claims … Hardly any other of the fairytales of the Grimm brothers remains so current today as »The fisherman and his wife«. The colourful, exciting, fast-moving everyday experiences seduce one into the pursuit of achieving unrealistic goals and desires. One should not always expect something in return for giving help and a love for humanity is always worth more than property, wealth and power.

Text, music, dance, performance and puppets are richly mixed in »Der Fischer und seine Frau« (»The fisherman and his wife«). Parallels between the world of fairytales and the present develop playfully, sadly and with a great deal of fun. The children are brought into the performance.

Berndt Stübner acts on stage, in films and on television. He was a member of the ensemble of Schauspiel Leipzig from 1976-2013 and performed in countless classic and modern plays here. He also builds puppets and directed, together with Werner Stiefel, the production »Hänsel und Gretel« in Gewandhaus zu Leipzig with musicians from the orchestra there.

Werner Stiefel was a dancer of the ballet company at Oper Leipzig from 1972-90 and its first soloist since 1983. He was a member of the dance theatre at Schauspiel Leipzig from 1990-96, and has served as the House manager here since then. He has been creating his own choreographies since 1985 and has been especially successful with his children’s programmes, among them »Schneewittchen und die 10 x 7 Zwerge« (»Snow white and the 10 x 7 dwarves«, 1996) and »Dornröschen – Hinter der Dornenhecke« (»Sleeping beauty – behind the thorn hedge«, 2003).