2016

Starring Hitler as Jekyll and Hyde

Chong Tze Chien’s daring reimagining of history

Synopsis

What if Hitler were Jekyll and Hyde? History and fiction collide in Starring Hitler as Jekyll and Hyde. Borrowing characters and themes from literary classic – Jekyll and Hyde, the history of Jewish holocaust is retold in a new tale about Jekyll, a young painter by day, who turns into Hitler by night. Hitler terrorises the populace, subjecting them to his will. To build up his country, the non-ˇnatives are murdered and disposed of by him to preserve the blood and lineage of his countrymen. Meanwhile, Jekyll the young painter rises in stature

and wealth as his alter-ˇego coerces the population into building galleries and museums, and commissioning artworks to pay homage to himself.

As the country enters the dark ages, a police inspector is tasked to uncover the true identity of Hitler and stop his killings.

First staged in 2014 to critical acclaim, Starring Hitler as Jekyll and Hyde is a modern parable about the rise and return of fundamentalism and fanaticism in today’s world. Featuring a stellar cast, Chong Tze Chien’s explosive play bristles with hard hitting truths and resonance.