Las amargas lágrimas de Petra von Kant

Petra von Kant, a successful designer who just separated from her second husband, lives with her secretary Marlene, who acts as her assistant and almost slave. When one of her best friends introduces her to Karin, a young opportunist from a humble background, Petra falls deeply in love with her and promises to make her an international model. It’s the start of a stormy relationship between the two women.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant−which was written at a frenzied pace during a flight between Berlin and Los Angeles and premiered in 1971−is from Rainer Werner Fassbinder's (1946-1982) most brilliant period. The play was made into a film the following year and was acclaimed by international critics for its stylised portrayal of romantic heartbreak in a purely female universe. The German playwright, who breathed new life into Brechtian theatre with American melodrama, brings out the heavy artillery to speak of loneliness and domination in this story of a sapphic love which grows during pauses and silences. This adaptation by Rakel Camacho, who also directs the play, brings fresh energy full of imagery to a classic European drama about relationships of power, sick obsession and the toxic need to be accepted by others.

Premiere performance.

With the aim of providing an opportunity for young creators to converse and express their contemporary views of the works of some of the past century's great writers, every season Nave 10 Matadero will feature a production chosen primarily from 20th-century Spanish and European works. Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1946-1982) is the playwright selected for the 2024/25 Season.