About the work
The novel by Swedish journalist Jonas Jonasson was published in Sweden in 2009 and quickly became the country's best-selling book; it has since appeared in 45 languages. The stage version was adapted by Axel Schneider and Sonja Valentin and premiered on 13 October 2013 at the Altonaer Theater in Hamburg; it has since been staged at numerous German-language theatres.
Plot
On the day of his hundredth birthday, Allan Karlsson climbs out of the window of his retirement home to escape the planned party. Fleeing across Sweden, he comes into possession of a suitcase full of money, making him the target of a criminal gang and the police; an eccentric group of petty thieves and dropouts joins him along the way.
Cultural significance
The novel's worldwide success – more than 114 million copies sold – turned the stage adaptation into one of the most frequently produced contemporary comedies at German boulevard and repertory theatres.