Theatertreffen

In 2023, we celebrate the 60th edition of Theatertreffen. It is a moment to pause and look back at decades of powerful theatrical experiences with pride. Theatertreffen has always been more than a gathering of dramatic excellence, virtuoso acting and creative superlatives from across the German-language region.

Tobi Müller – former member of the Theatertreffen-jury – described the situation of German-language theatre as a “fight for the future” in 2023. He said that the self-legitimation of the artistic form has brought the theatre into competition with other media of social communication. In the resulting struggle for its public voice, he claimed, contemporary theatre became involved in an increasingly shrill battle for attention in order to remain audible in society.

In their essay “The Reconquest of Art in a Time of Uncertainty,” Petra Paterno and Sabine Leucht – jury members for this year’s Theatertreffen – examine theatre’s role in the midst of the polycrisis in general and the thematic positions of the 10 most notable productions in particular.

The volume of debate essays “Status Quote. Theater im Umbruch: Regisseurinnen im Gespräch”, edited by Sabine Leucht, Petra Paterno and Katrin Ullmann and published at Henschel Verlag, presents all female directors who have been invited to Theatertreffen since the female quota was introduced in 2020.

The Theatertreffen’s database lists every production, theatre and director invited to the festival since 1964.

The 60th edition of Jazzfest Berlin provides a space for music that is playful and intuitive and brings together different generations in 36 projects. The past, the present and the future are more tangible than ever in the festival programme. The complete programme has been published!

From October, the Berliner Festspiele is to launch a Performing Arts Season. A panorama of international and interdisciplinary dance, theatre and performance productions will move into the Festspielhaus and the Gropius Bau every autumn and winter.

Ether’s Bloom marks the first part of the Programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Gropius Bau. Taking place both online and offline, the programme focuses on the utopian and poetic possibilities of AI and shows works by Elisa Giardina Papa and Mimi Ọnụọha.