The story
Europe arrived with fine porcelain, silver cutlery and a very optimistic idea of what governing this country means. Over a multi-course dinner, Maximilian and Carlota tell their story live: the culture shock, falling in love with Mexico, political misunderstanding, the loneliness of power and the beginning of Carlota's emotional collapse.
Everything is told as if there were still hope… even though the audience knows the ending won't be happy.
How it works
The central dynamic is “Habsburg Etiquette”: guests must eat Mexican antojitos following the strict protocol of the Austrian court.
The hosts interact with every table, balancing the comedy of culture clash with the tension of a story heading toward tragedy.
The characters
- Maximilian of Habsburg: an idealistic emperor, enchanted by a country he never quite understands.
- Carlota: intelligent and passionate, increasingly alone in power.
What's included
- Themed 4-course dinner
- Live performance by two historical characters
- Rigorous, dramatized historical script
- Participatory “Habsburg Etiquette” dynamic
- Second Empire sound and visual atmosphere
What you take home
- Understanding the Second Empire from a human, not textbook, perspective
- Empathy for Maximilian and tension for Carlota
- Laughter, discomfort and reflection on imposing foreign models on Mexico
History and culture in every scene
As in all our experiences, the hosts' dialogue and the event's activities are written with real information about Mexican history and culture. You have fun and, without even noticing, you learn. The characters share real facts, dates and anecdotes from Mexican history; the fiction is there to make those facts stick.
Format and customization
“Maximilian & Carlota: The Imperial Dream” is one of our immersive theater productions. We can adapt it to your venue, group size, menu and language, as a private event or on dates open to the public.
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