Join young Emil as he says goodbye to his mother, leaves his small town and sets off on a journey that will change his life. When his money is stolen on the train by a mysterious stranger, Emil thinks he’s lost everything. But as he starts tracking down the thief, he soon discovers that he’s not alone in the big city after all.
For this classic tale of a boy learning to rely on himself – and on his new friends – the Olivier stage transforms into 1920s Berlin: a place full of surprises and danger, where everything moves at the speed of your imagination.
Following on from the huge success of War Horse, 59 Productions once again brought innovative scenic projection to the National Theatre’s Oliver Stage, this time presenting a vision of Berlin as an Bauhaus wonderland, a high-contrast combination of Weimar Republic style and noirish lighting. Working with designer Bunny Christie, 59 created a unique aesthetic for the show which built up from the aesthetic roots of German Expressionism towards a new and distinctive scenographic vision.