POLICE at Palais Schrottenberg: ArtEast Theater presents bitter power grotesque in Bamberg
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When power must invent its enemies
With Sławomir Mrożek's POLICE, on April 25, 2026, at Palais Schrottenberg, a bitterly funny play takes the stage, dissecting the mechanics of authoritarian systems with grotesque clarity. The Bamberg production by ArtEast Theater connects political wit with a suffocating present, where security, surveillance, and the invention of new threats feel disturbingly familiar. The performance begins at 20:00, with doors opening at 19:30; tickets cost 14 Euros, reduced 8 Euros. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/arteast_theater_polizei-768941-12664443/?utm_source=openai))
Absurd, precise, timeless
Mrożek’s 1958 satire belongs to those plays that derive their comedy from the precise exposure of political rituals. The police stand in this world without opponents and must rethink their justification for existence. Exactly therein lies the enduring explosive power of the text: It describes not only past regimes but an order that stabilizes itself through fear, enemy images, and linguistic tricks. According to Britannica, Mrożek is one of the formative Polish dramatists of the 20th century; Police is considered an early key work of his absurd theater. ([britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Slawomir-Mrozek?utm_source=openai))
An evening between the grotesque and the present
ArtEast Theater has been working in Bamberg for years with plays from Central and Eastern Europe, bringing this literature to the stage with a modern interpretation. For POLICE, Andreas Ellner, Judith Kinitz, Steven Lüke, and Christine Renker are performing; direction is by Eugeniya Ershova and Kristina Kroll. The production employs strobe light effects, adding a nervous, flickering tension to the evening and intensifying the atmosphere of threat. The baroque space of Palais Schrottenberg at Kasernstraße 1, in the heart of Bamberg's old town, serves as the venue. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/arteast_theater_polizei-768941-12664443/?utm_source=openai))
The venue as part of the production
Palais Schrottenberg is located between the Cathedral and Little Venice and is described as a historic building with a baroque aura, high rooms, and stucco ceilings. Relevant access points for visitors are the parking deck at Katzenberg 5 and limited parking spaces directly at the building; the approach leads through the old town. For the current performance, there are no secured details on capacity, cloakroom, or full accessibility of the venue, so early arrival and a brief inquiry with the organizer are recommended. ([palais-schrottenberg.de](https://palais-schrottenberg.de/?utm_source=openai))
Why this theater evening is electrifying
The production strikes a chord because Mrożek's satire exposes the logic of political self-assertion without losing itself in theory. The interplay of power, fear, and propaganda language develops an immediate attraction on stage. Those who love theater as a diagnosis of the present will not experience a museum repertoire here, but a pointed stage experience with razor-sharp dramaturgy, political relevance, and that dry humor that lingers long after. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/arteast_theater_polizei-768941-12664443/?utm_source=openai))
Conclusion: POLICE promises a clever, dark, and highly relevant theater evening in Bamberg. The mix of absurd humor, political sharpness, and historical backdrop makes this performance an event for all who love intense spoken theater. Experiencing it live is worthwhile. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/arteast_theater_polizei-768941-12664443/?utm_source=openai))
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- Website: https://en.bamberg.info/poi/arteast_theater-47585/
