Paul*

World premiere

‘Paul*’ is, after ‘Die Eisbärin’, the second classroom play that Eva Rottmann has written for the Theatre of the Canton of Zurich. Aimed at young people aged 13 and over, the play tells the story of first love and gender roles, and asks: What are boys? What are girls? What lies in between? Who decides what we are, and how does that affect us? And how do you know what you are? What happens when the outside doesn’t match the inside?

A young man, Chris, enters the classroom. In front of the whole class, he wants to transform himself into a woman. He explains that he has to win a bet by doing so. But in reality, his aim is to understand what his wife Paula is currently going through. Because Paula is Paul and wishes to undergo physical transition to align with his gender identity. Chris must accept this if he does not want to lose Paul and his children. But the path to this is difficult, and he must overcome many ingrained stereotypes.

Paul* explores the spectrum of gender identities through the interplay of individual desires and societal norms. The play explores the search for one’s own identity, love and sexual orientation.

The German Literature Fund has awarded Eva Rottmann a grant for ‘Paul*’ as part of the ‘Neustart Kultur’ programme. The grant is conditional upon the publication of the play’s text on our website. This gives you the opportunity not only to see the play, but also to read it. Below you will find the text of ‘Paul*’.