Translated by: Ármin Szabó-Székely

In her 2024 play, Maja Zade, dramaturg of the Schaubühne in Berlin, follows a day in the life of a couple. Nina is a member of parliament striving to perform well in multiple arenas; at present, she is fighting against the closure of a women’s shelter. Mark was a successful corporate lawyer, but after burning out in his profession, he decided to continue his career as a primary school teacher. After their shared breakfast, they each face professional challenges, human dilemmas, and unexpected crises throughout the day – and their unspoken personal issues also catch up with them. By evening, both of their lives have changed, and the two people who return home are no longer the same as those who set out in the morning.

How long can we pursue the goals set before us without losing touch with ourselves and others? What can we give up without betraying what truly matters to us? At the end of the day, what can we honestly call success? Zade’s formally unique text, in which two actors play twenty-three roles, offers a vivid reflection on the many personal and social questions of our time.