Lorenz Langenegger

Rakows Dom
3 D, 4 H
frei zur UA
"Lorenz Langenegger wins the play competition of the Schaubühne.. The jury ... praises the striking dramaturgy and the economic language of Rakows Dom. The characters are, in the opinion of the jury, strongly drawn, and Langenegger succeeds in a humorous portrayal of the cosmos of a small-town society... Rakows Dom describes the madness of the faith in money and power, the absurdities of political mechanisms, and the great repression of a family lie. " (Press release Schaubühne Berlin)

In past centuries, rich and powerful families built castles or churches. Today they collect art, begin charitable foundations which try to do something about the misery of the world, host a football club or win sailing competitions. But what if a man wants to build a cathedral today? Is this a great idea, one that opposes small-minded resistance, or is it rather a matter of overweening arrogance—one which must be stifled in the bud? Why is the pastor opposed to the new house of God, and why do the artists support it, even though their ateliers must give way to the splendor? Mrs. Rakow and the city mayor support the project from a professional standpoint.
The delicate Junior misses his sister, Jelena, blames his father for sending her to a sanatorium, and does not show much enthusiasm for the plans of his parent. The girl from the College of Art, on the other hand, has retained her artistic virginity for a work of such proportions and is determined to fulfil Rakow's desire that she marry Junior in what will be the opening ceremony of the century. And all this, only because I wanted to write a play about someone who wants to build a cathedral because he has a thing for domes. (Lorenz Langenegger)

In the context of the 7th International New Dramatic Festival (F.I.N.D.7) of the Schaubühne, the play was presented in a scenic reading arranged by Sebastian Nübling.