Friendship never ends at U17: Friendship becomes the major stage theme

Friendship never ends: When friendship matures on stage

Friendships begin in the sandbox, grow through school and youth, and change with every phase of life. In the development of the piece Friendship never ends, Hannah Frauenrath, together with the ensemble, examines what connects people, when loyalty holds, and why a rupture can sometimes hurt as much as the end of a romantic relationship.

A collage about closeness, belonging, and betrayal

The production focuses on the many faces of friendship: mutual support, shared secrets, peer pressure, and the search for one's own place. Questions of belonging and identity confront very personal situations – such as the moment when one outgrows a friendship or falls in love with one’s best friend.

Dramaturgy between humor and serious resonance

Hannah Frauenrath develops the play as a versatile stage collage that celebrates friendship while also revealing its vulnerable sides. The dramaturgy moves from friendship at first sight through conflicts with parents and the eternal oath of loyalty to betrayal and first love. This creates a stage experience that addresses young audiences directly and simultaneously opens up space for their own experiences.

Direction, set design, and ensemble at U17

The production by Hannah Frauenrath combines acting, music, video, and concentrated spatial design. Laura Immler is responsible for the set design, Jil Dreyer for costumes and video, and Carl Grübel for the music. Rebecca Reuter accompanies the production dramaturgically. On stage, Iris Atzwanger, Carlotta Hein, Carl Grübel, and Johannes Schmidt perform.

The underground venue U17 creates an immediate theater atmosphere: The rising grandstand brings the audience close to the action, while light, acoustics, and ensemble work intensify the changing moods between solidarity, insecurity, and new beginnings.

For youth aged 13 and up

Friendship never ends is aimed at an audience aged 13 and older and lasts about 60 minutes. The performance on December 3, 2026, starts at 11:00 AM. Regular tickets are available from 9.50 euros; reduced prices apply to students. U17 is accessible by elevator.

Conclusion: An evening of theater about the most important 'we'

This stage experience does not make friendship a decorative subplot but the dramatic center. Those who want to know how much closeness can endure, when loyalty becomes a challenge, and why farewell is just as much a part of it as solidarity, will experience an intelligent, musical, and life-realistic production at U17. Friendship may never end – but it changes. That is exactly what this theater evening tells.

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Sources:

• Staatstheater Mainz – Friendship never ends
• Staatstheater Mainz – Program booklet for Friendship never ends
• Staatstheater Mainz – Ticket prices 2026/27
• Staatstheater Mainz – Accessibility