Mehr Drama!
Writers present their choice of new playwriting
A personally curated survey of contemporary playwriting is presented in the new Theatertreffen format Mehr Drama!, conceived in collaboration with the Verband Deutscher Bühnen- und Medienverlage (VDB). Six theatre publishers have asked distinguished playwrights from their programmes each to recommend one emerging playwright whose work will be presented at Theatertreffen in a reading with a high-quality cast. Afterwards, there will be conversations between the playwrights and the authors responsible for their selection.
In 2026 the selection has been made by: Sivan Ben Yishai, Necati Öziri, Sasha Marianna Salzmann, Ferdinand Schmalz, Gerhild Steinbuch and Paula Thielecke.
The selected playwrights are: Dora Yuemin Cheng, Sharon Dodua Otoo, Lennart Kos, Jara Nassar, Laura Uribe and Leonie Ziem.
Discourse
The discursive framing programme invites visitors to dive deeper into the themes of the ten selected productions together with well-known guests from a variety of fields – and from unaccustomed angles. Two films, three podium discussions and an exhibition in the foyers open surprising connections between the productions and our complex present. The programme is curated by the theatre, film and media critic Matthias Dell.
Discussions featuring: Teresa Bücker, Diedrich Diederichsen, Ebow, Ruprecht Polenz, Vera Schneevoigt and Francis Seeck.
Mehr Drama! is a collaboration between Theatertreffen produced by Berliner Festspiele with the theatre publishers Felix Bloch Erben, S. Fischer Verlage, henschel Schauspiel, Rowohlt Verlag, Suhrkamp Verlag, Verlag der Autoren and the Verband Deutscher Bühnen- und Medienverlage e.V. and is funded by Heinz und Heide Dürr Stiftung.
The discursive programme is fundet by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung/bpb).
