Written in Residence at Akademie Schloss Solitude
1806: Two German brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm are hard at work recording local folktales, seeking to preserve the longstanding oral tradition amidst the advent of new technology. Their work resulted in a collection eventually known as Grimm’s fairy tales, including Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood.
1932: two German brothers are coming of age as the Hitler Youth program rises to prominence.
The play Brotherhood alternates between these two timelines as both sets of brothers mature and grapple with their understanding of country, morality, and brotherhood. As the Grimms are banished from Hanover for protesting changes to the region’s constitution and begin work on a comprehensive German dictionary, the other set of brothers must determine their place in Germany as World War II looms on the horizon and they are asked to fight for their nation.