When does the performance start?

The performance starts on 03.10.2026 at 18:30.

How long does The Chalk Circle last?

The stated duration is about 3 hours including an intermission.

Is the performance suitable for youth?

The production is recommended for ages 14 and up.

Where does the event take place?

At the Theater Duisburg – Main House, Neckarstraße 1, 47051 Duisburg.

What is the ticket price?

Tickets start at 20 euros; additional price categories are available.

Are there accessibility notes?

The Theater Duisburg is a historical building with limited accessibility; some areas are only accessible by stairs.

Zemlinsky's The Chalk Circle ignites a rare opera fire at the Theater Duisburg.

Name: The Chalk Circle
Start: 2026-10-03T20:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-03T23:30:00+02:00
Location: Theater Duisburg – Großes Haus

An opera evening full of excitement, poetry, and brilliant music

With Alexander Zemlinsky's The Chalk Circle, a rarely performed music theater work returns to the stage of the Theater Duisburg: an opera in three acts, in German with sur-titles, lasting about three hours with an intermission. The material combines fairy tale, social drama, and caricature into a dense theatrical experience that strikes the question of justice right to the heart. ([operamrhein.de](https://www.operamrhein.de/spielplan/produktionen/der-kreidekreis/))

A story between fairy tale and power

At the center is Haitang, whose path leads through exclusion, violence, and slander until the famous chalk circle becomes a bitter test of truth. Zemlinsky sets this story to music with dazzling color: late romanticism, jazz sounds, distant gong strikes, and cabaret elements blend into a sound language that is both sensual and sharply contoured. ([operamrhein.de](https://www.operamrhein.de/spielplan/produktionen/der-kreidekreis/))

Direction, stage, and light: clear images, strong contrasts

The production relies on the signature of David Bösch, with stage and video by Patrick Bannwart, costumes by Falko Herold, and lighting by Volker Weinhart. This creates a theatrical atmosphere where psychological intensification and visual precision come together. The official description calls the work a poetic realism in a jazzily brilliant sound cloak; at the same time, the production emphasizes the range between fairy tale imagery and political harshness. ([operamrhein.de](https://www.operamrhein.de/spielplan/produktionen/der-kreidekreis/))

A work with historical weight

The Chalk Circle is based on Klabund's play after a Chinese sing-play from the 14th century; Zemlinsky's opera premiered in Zurich in 1933 after the composer had to flee Berlin. This historical rupture gives the evening additional authority: the stage events do not seem like a museum relic, but rather like a piece of operatic history that remains alive. ([operamrhein.de](https://www.operamrhein.de/spielplan/produktionen/der-kreidekreis/))

Impact on the audience and initial reactions

Available expert voices describe the production as atmospherically dense and musically compelling. Particularly highlighted are the dark stage design, the poetic power, and the strong impact of the character constellation. This promises an evening that challenges not only the eyes but also the moral sensibility. ([operamrhein.de](https://www.operamrhein.de/spielplan/produktionen/der-kreidekreis/))

Conclusion

The Chalk Circle at the Theater Duisburg promises an intense opera experience between sound ecstasy and human abyss. Those who appreciate great stage art, a pointed direction, and rarely performed repertoire should experience this evening live. ([operamrhein.de](https://www.operamrhein.de/spielplan/produktionen/der-kreidekreis/))