Order, Führer! is an adaptation of Brigitte Schwaiger’s ‘Führer, Befiehl!’ that examines the enduring psychology of blind allegiance in times of war and rising extremism. Against the backdrop of ongoing global conflicts and the haunting memory of the World Wars, the production questions why tyrants continue to inspire devotion and how ordinary individuals enable their rise to power. At the centre of the play is a woman who passionately supports and idolizes a dictator, embodying not merely submission but a complex fusion of fanaticism, loyalty, and personal conviction. Jilmil Hajarika portrays a character who is both defendant and defender of her own beliefs, while the audience assumes the role of jury, compelled to judge her motives and moral responsibility. Such dictatorial figures, blind to consequences yet unwavering in their justification, are instrumental in sustaining oppressive regimes.

Writer:

Brigitte Schwaiger (1949 – 2010) was a noted Austrian author born in Freistadt, Austria. Schwaiger rose to international prominence with her debut novel Wie kommt das Salz ins Meer? (1977), translated as ‘Why Is There Salt in the Sea?’. She produced a significant body of work including novels, poetry, and reflective prose such as Lange Abwesenheit, Die Galizianerin, Der rote Faden, and Fallen lassen (2006), the latter detailing her experiences with psychiatry. In 1984, she received the Culture Prize of the Province of Upper Austria in recognition of her literary contribution.

Director:

Ovlyakuli Khodjakuli is an internationally acclaimed theatre director from Central Asia, known for his innovative and intercultural approach to performance. He earned his MFA from the Tashkent State Theater and Art Institute in 1986 and further refined his craft under renowned directors such as Georgy Tovstonogov and M. Tumanishvili, while also participating in master classes with Peter Brook. He worked as Artistic Director of the State Music and Drama Theater in Turkmenistan, and later worked with the Youth Theater in Ashgabat. Khodjakuli has directed over 80 plays by major dramatists including Aeschylus, Shakespeare, Goethe, Wilde, Euripides, Byron, and Navoi, along with films and documentaries. His productions such as King Lear, Medea, Oedipus, and Hamlet-Joker have been presented at prestigious international festivals across Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Director’s Note

In recent years, the theme of war has haunted us relentlessly. Conflicts claim hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide, echoing the tragedies of the last century. But who truly ignites the flames of war? Those we call “heroes” — and those who blindly follow them. This play is an exploration of the psychology of blind devotion. It tells the story of a woman who falls in love with a tyrant and supports him despite the destruction around her. This is not simply Stockholm syndrome; it is a complex knot of fanaticism, personal beliefs, and sacrifice. The protagonist is not a heroine, she represents a person blinded by faith, unaware of the danger, yet deeply convinced of her righteousness. We invite you to act as jurors and ask yourselves: what drives a person to follow such dangerous ideals? Can we understand her actions? And how should we, as a society, respond when extremism rises again?

Group:

Established in 2011, Arnav Arts Trust is a group of theatre people- writers, designers, directors, as well as pedagogues and other artists. Besides staging plays, the trust aspires to organize cultural events, seminars, conferences, workshops, and exhibitions etc and work to promote education through theatre and research in the field. To Kill or Not to Kill is its first performance-based project.