Dramaturge and director Tünde Deak is currently presenting Woyzeck or the Vocation, a new play that reimagines the classic Woyzeck by Georg Büchner. This production explores a pivotal moment in Deak’s life when she attended a performance of W or The Workers' Circus by the Hungarian theatre group Krétakör Színház at the Sequano-Dionysian institution in Bobigny on September 29, 2001. The event took place on a warm summer evening and was attended by her parents, who were not usually drawn to theatre but had a connection to Hungarian culture. The production, directed by Árpád Schilling, was inspired by the works of Antonin Artaud, Attila József, and Büchner’s Woyzeck, a play that Tünde’s mother had admired during her studies in Germany. Deak recalls feeling initially out of place in the theatrical setting, with its red velvet and the presence of her parents. However, she quickly became captivated by the performance, describing the experience as "struck by lightning." This moment led her to reflect on how such an event could have changed her life. Woyzeck or the Vocation seeks to answer this by examining the character of Woyzeck, who, in the final moments of Büchner’s play, struggles with madness after killing Marie. Deak begins the performance with the end of Woyzeck, focusing on the act of femicide as a central theme and reflecting on her younger self through the characters of the original play. This exploration of cultural and artistic roots is similar to Deak’s previous works, Tünde and Ladilom, where she examined her Hungarian heritage and dual cultural identity. Across these plays, she prefers a poetic approach that raises questions and doubts rather than offering clear answers. However, the first performances of Woyzeck or the Vocation at La Comédie de Valence in February 2026 were marked by some challenges, with the narrative feeling more scattered than focused. Despite these issues, the production features a charming scenic design, particularly in its use of passages from Woyzeck. While the dialogue with Büchner’s work sometimes lacks energy and momentum, the director shows a unique curiosity, especially in the scene with the bearded men that frames Woyzeck’s trial. The play includes Lilla Sárosdi, who performed in Schilling’s original show, in the role of Woyzeck. The set design is by Marc Lainé and Stephan Zimmerli, with music by Léopoldine HH, lighting by Kelig Lebars, video by Baptiste Klein, sound by Mélodie Souquet, costumes by Benjamin Moreau, and masks by Judith Dubois. The production also features archival images from W or The Workers' Circus. The play was first seen in February 2026 at La Comédie de Valence and will be performed from October 1 to 10, 2026, at Les Plateaux Sauvages in Paris. It is produced by La Comédie de Valence, CDN Drôme-Ardèche, and Compagnie Intérieur/Boîte, with co-productions from other theatre companies. The text is published by Koïné editions, and Tünde Deak and Stephan Zimmerli are members of the artistic ensemble of La Comédie de Valence.