The Trial

They told us ignorance is bliss. They were wrong. Relentless, disorienting persecution. The lonely and isolated human soul. Unpredictable and buffoonish bureaucrats. Swirling accusations. Betrayal. The search for the truth in the midst of institutional silence. Amnesia, forgiveness, transformation, and death. Hilarity and terror, fear and bravery.Franz Kafka, the lonely insurance clerk, took these elements and feelings and created a world so specific and recognizable that he was honored with his own adjective. He died penniless and with no acknowledgement. His own life and death prove the profound, soul-twisting truth of his works.


In The Trial, Kafka offers us the everyman of Joseph K. Joseph's 40th birthday (on April 1st, no less) begins with the gift of his being awoken by two strange men who inform him that he is "under arrest". From this beginning, Kafka spins a hysterical and disturbing tale of Joseph's next year, as our hero fights to understand and overcome the charges laid to him by a remote and inaccessible power. We watch in horrified hope as Joseph tumbles down the rabbit hole of innocence protested and guilt assumed. Peopled with vixens and lawyers, landladies and managers, Kafka and Joseh K's world is strange and, also, terribly, terribly familiar. Written in 1914-15 and published in 1925 (though actually never finished by Kafka), The Trial has the spine-tingling feel of being absolutely modern.

ABOUT NEW CENTURY THEATRE COMPANY
New Century Theatre Company is comprised of local theatre artists whose work is regularly featured on Seattle’s professional stages, as well as numerous regional theatres throughout the country.

NCTC is comprised of: Hans Altwies (TH), Jamie Herlich, Paul Morgan Stetler, Ray Gonzalez (TH '97), Makaela Pollock, Michael Patten, MJ Sieber (TH '01), Jen Taylor, Amy Thone, Stephanie Timm, Darragh Kennan, Peter Dylan O'Connor (TH '94), and Betsy Schwartz.

NCTC also welcomes new members Brenda Joyner, Ruth Eitemiller, and Artistic Associates Geof Korff and John Langs.

NCTC is always busy - see what else they're doing at wearenctc.org.