With "Hard Times", the Ruhrfestspiele and the Thalia Theater Hamburg are presenting a new stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1854 novel. It is directed by Antú Romero Nunes, who was already a guest at the Ruhrfestspiele in 2019 with his acclaimed production of Max and Moritz.  In the fictional industrial town of Coketown in northern England, young siblings Louisa and Tom are subjected to the strict upbringing of their father, who suppresses feelings and creativity. It is only through Sissy, the child of a circus acrobat, that imagination enters their lives. At the same time, the factory workers form a resistance against exploitation and social injustice. Dickens' tale of the search for justice and humanity in a world ruled by the rhythm of machines is reinterpreted in this co-production as a musical experience with singing and acting.