“Ab jetzt” by Alan Ayckbourn

A Bittersweet Comedy

In a near future filled with chaos and technology, composer Jerome fights to hold on to the last shred of human warmth he has left: his love for his son. He hasn’t seen him since his divorce. Now, in his loneliness, he tries by any means necessary to win his child back—even if it means acting against all moral principles.

A Question of Humanity

When an opportunity finally arises through the child welfare agency, he begins to put his devious plan into action: a perfect new marriage. Almost too perfect. But then everything turns out differently than planned, and somewhere between technology and chaos, a question finally arises: What remains when humanity is lost? This is precisely the question explored by this year’s theater elective at Munich’s Theresien-Gymnasium. And even though this story dates back to 1988, the topic couldn’t be more relevant today.

Theater at Theresien-Gymnasium

It is remarkable that such a vibrant theater scene has developed at the relatively small Theresien-Gymnasium—especially since the school lacks an auditorium for events. But as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention, so the theater teachers put out feelers and began presenting their productions on various stages throughout Munich. Ten years ago, theater classes were introduced in the lower grades. This was followed by an elective course for grades 7 through 10 and, finally, the theater specialization course for the upper grades. Most recently, this course staged Joseph Kesselring’s black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace (2024) and Rhinoceros (2025), a classic of the theater of the absurd.