Premiere in Bremen: Ms. Yamamoto touches with loneliness and love

Premiere in Bremen: Ms. Yamamoto touches with loneliness and love

On September 30, 2025, the Bremen Theater celebrated the premiere of the play “Mrs. Yamamoto is still there” by Dea Loher. Directed by Alize Zandwijk, this work deals with the loneliness and everyday life of a widowed pensioner. The main character, Ms. Yamamoto, shows how fragile human relationships can be in old age.

The piece consists of 20 small, fragmentary scenes that illuminate various faces of loneliness, including relationships, artificial intelligence care, environmental pollution and the topic of death. As viewers immerse themselves in Ms. Yamamoto's world, a central question arises: "Are you happy?" This question is at the heart of the relationship conflicts that also affect the gay neighbor couple Erik and Nino, whose separation is triggered by the search for personal happiness. Particular attention was paid to the performance of Irene Kleinschmidt in the title role as Mrs. Yamamoto and Lieke Hoppe as Milena, who were able to wonderfully capture the emotional depth of the characters, as reported Bremen Two.

A look at the production

The stage, designed by Thomas Rupert, is equipped with moving boxes that are used both as furniture and for props. These boxes are not only a symbol of temporary living spaces, but also of past phases of life that the protagonists have to leave behind. “Mrs. Yamamoto is still there” is accompanied by music by Matti Weber, which contributes to the intensity of the production reports the Weser-Kurier.

Another focus of the production is the loneliness depicted, which does not exclusively affect Ms. Yamamoto. This also illuminates the relationship between Erik and Nino, which is repeatedly gripped by conflicts over the course of the plot. At a time when society often ignores the challenges of old age and loneliness, these topics have been brought to the stage in a gripping and humorous way.

Addressing a taboo topic

Loneliness in old age is a widespread problem that is often not addressed openly. This topic is not only addressed in “Mrs. Yamamoto is still here,” but also in other projects, such as the play “Loneliness in Old Age,” which examines various facets of isolation in old age. Real life stories also come into play here. The aim of these projects is to raise awareness of loneliness and, as a society, to actively find solutions to reduce social isolation, explains Quarter Plus.

Theater Bremen will continue to perform the play in the coming weeks, with dates on October 4th, November 9th, November 14th and December 5th, each at 7 p.m. The duration of the piece is two hours without an intermission. Anyone who would like to find out more about the fate of Ms. Yamamoto and her neighbors can find further information and appointment details on the theater's website.

With “Mrs. Yamamoto is still there,” Theater Bremen is showing an important play that not only entertains, but also stimulates thought and encourages the audience to deal with complex topics such as loneliness, relationships and personal life decisions.