An Opera Classic Meets High School Atmosphere

“Most of the costumes are thrifted—we carefully selected secondhand clothing and purchased it specifically for the production,” says head of the costume department Lenka Radecky. Once acquired, each garment is adapted to the costume designer’s vision and tailored to the singers’ measurements. Orange-and-gray training jackets, for example, receive blue accents so they blend more seamlessly into the overall visual concept. “We especially like to buy shirts and sportswear because they look more authentic. Many of these cuts could not be recreated faithfully in our workshops, as they require special machinery,” Radecky explains.

Other costumes, however, are crafted entirely by hand. Among them is a pair of trousers for Nemorino adorned with around 700 heart-shaped sequins, each measuring approximately three centimeters. The design was inspired by a stage outfit worn by British musician and actor Harry Styles during his Love On Tour.

Lenka Radecky says she does not have a favorite among the costumes. “I see them like children. Each has its own character, and at some point, you have to let them go.” Some, however, require more attention than others. In L’elisir d’amore, this is especially true of the costumes for Adina, Nemorino, and Dulcamara.

Colors play a central role in the production. The costumes range from shades of pink, orange, and green to blue and gray. Particularly striking is the gray-and-black coat worn by the eccentric doctor Dulcamara. He sells the hopelessly lovestruck Nemorino what he claims is a love potion and carries his miraculous remedies in numerous inside pockets. “It is practically a coat shop,” Radecky says with a smile. The oversized coat certainly offers plenty of room for them.

Yellow Brick Walls and Marble-Effect Carpets

Right next to the costume atelier is the scenic art workshop. The smell of paint and varnish is unmistakable the moment you step inside. This is where the work begins just as other departments are nearly finished: the scenic art team paints the walls and set pieces built by the carpentry workshop. The first act of L’elisir d’amore is set in forecourt of the high school. For the building's brick façade, leftover pieces of Styrofoam are carved into individual bricks before being assembled like a puzzle onto a wooden panel. The wall is painted yellow, while the window frames are finished in a deep teal.

Balancing Aesthetics and Safety

One floor below, in the metal work workshop, the team led by head of metalwork Stefan Hortig is building a grandstand for the set. In the first act, it serves as both a gathering place and seating area for the students in the schoolyard. Constructed from steel profiles with wooden elements, the stage sections are joined together with lift-off hinges and fitted with upholstered seats. The challenge lies in designing the approximately 3.5-meter-long and 1.2-meter-wide grandstand so that it can be separated into two parts. Only then can the fire safety curtain be lowered in an emergency, creating a secure barrier between the stage and the auditorium. “Our first idea was to build the movable section of the grandstand on casters, but visually it just did not work,” Stefan Hortig explains. The solution ultimately came in the form of a carpet. In an emergency, the front section of the structure can be pulled forward quickly. A safety railing ensures that the singers can perform securely on the two-meter-high construction. Many of the set elements are suspended from the fly tower above the stage, allowing the scenic spaces to transform quickly from one scene to the next.

Compared with a production on the Seebühne, the set design for L’elisir d’amore is less elaborate, but no less effective. Rather than relying on spectacular scale, the production draws its strength from the staging itself: a convincing high school atmosphere, playful theatrical wit, and a coherent reimagining of the story in the more recent past. Crafted with remarkable attention to detail, this vibrant world evokes memories of school days gone by while bringing Donizetti’s love story vividly to life. And perhaps it will even inspire audiences to wonder how their own story might have unfolded with the help of a love potion. This captivating coming-of-age story can be experienced at the Theater am Kornmarkt from 17 August 2026 onward.