Theatre play in German: The Rise and Fall of Mr. René Benko

‘I'm not afraid of bankruptcy,’ René Benko boasted in a 2011 interview with Krone. Things turned out differently. The insolvency of his Signa Group is the biggest bankruptcy in the Second Republic of Austria. German and Italian cities are also facing years of construction craters. Millions in state investments have vanished into thin air. The self-made billionaire leaves behind a shambles. Following plays such as ‘Die Redaktion’ (The Editorial Office) and ‘Heldenplätze’ (Heroes' Squares), author and director Calle Fuhr, together with the investigative editorial team DOSSIER, once again looks behind the headlines to tell the story of the rise and fall of the miracle man Benko. Calle Fuhr himself takes to the stage in this solo performance, taking the audience on a journey into the amazing Signa wonderland and revealing the system that made René Benko possible in the first place. "It remains exciting throughout the entire performance. One eye-opening moment follows another.‘ (ORF, ZIB 13) The acclaimed premiere at the Vienna Volkstheater, which was also invited to the ’Radikal jung" festival, will be continued in an updated version at the Schauspiel Köln, where Kai Voges will be artistic director and Calle Fuhr will be resident writer and director from the 2025/26 season onwards.
Direction and stage design: Calle Fuhr
Costumes: Tina Prichenfried
Video: Lisa Rodlauer
Dramaturgy: Matthias Seier
Funded by: Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Department of German Culture / South Tyrol Savings Bank Foundation
In collaboration with: South Tyrol Cultural Institute Economy & Culture Merano
Supported by: Auto Brenner