Drama Queens famously boasts, “We do not do minimalism.” Yet, their 2025 production of Franz Kafka’s The Trial at La Fabrika greets the eye with an overwhelming, almost stark grey set. This apparent contradiction, however, unravels to reveal a profound complexity that perfectly captures Kafka’s unsettling world.
The stage initially presents as bare, featuring only stark pieces of grey fabric stretched over metal frames and a stark, almost skeletal metal bed frame for Josef K. But this is no empty stage. It is K’s world, relentlessly intruded upon, and behind him, always present, is the character VOICE—a constant, presence shadowing his horrific ordeal.
The grey extends to their costumes, creating a uniform, oppressive backdrop. Against this canvas, each character’s essence is carved into our memory through stark, exposing colors in their accessories. These vivid touches are not mere decoration; they are visual anchors for K, guiding us through his chaotic, labyrinthine quest for meaning and solace in a world determined to punish him without explanation.
The grey fabric pieces themselves transcend mere set design. They transform into shifting screens for shadows, a powerful visual statement on Josef K.’s fragmented emotional experience. More broadly, they embody the play’s central theme: our human struggle to find meaning in a world that offers none. We are left to decipher silhouettes, to project understanding onto what is utterly contrary to our lived experience, mirroring K’s desperate attempt to understand his accusation.
Like their boast, their set is anything but simple. This production is a testament to how immense complexity can be created from seemingly minimal elements. It offers an unparalleled way to engage with The Trial, a text notoriously difficult to navigate. The stage play masterfully illuminates the bizarre, intricate workings of Kafka’s world, making it startlingly relevant to our own political landscape, our search for allies, and our constant negotiation with institutions and the workplace. It’s a poignant exploration of the self-imposed paranoia that can arise from external expectations.
I thoroughly recommend this production to anyone seeking a deeper, visceral understanding of Kafka’s classic. Go see it.The Trial at La Fabrika is running 15th – 17th June 2025, you can buy your tickets:
15th June: https://www.lafabrika.cz/cs/program/the-drama-queens-franz-kafka-proces-2025-06-15-19-30-00
16th June:
https://www.lafabrika.cz/cs/program/the-drama-queens-franz-kafka-proces-2025-06-16-19-30-00
17th June:
https://www.lafabrika.cz/cs/program/the-drama-queens-franz-kafka-proces-2025-06-17-19-30-00