Theatric-O-Meter
The Theatertreffen has a reputation for attracting productions that are remarkable in at least one aspect, but what do these prodigious plays have in common? We've worked out some of the statistics so check them out and find out who the winner is.
May 21, 2012 by Miriam Sherwood in The Theatertreffen Blog
Theatertreffen acting fact-file
The €5,000 Alfred-Kerr-Preis for the best performance at the Theatertreffen was awarded yesterday to Fabian Hinrichs. But among the copious and varied styles of acting how did they choose? Perhaps they took a page out of our fact-file.
May 21, 2012 by Miriam Sherwood in The Theatertreffen Blog
Platonov: The premiere
Traditionally many of Chekhov's comedies have been interpreted as tragedies, but not so with Hermanis' Platonov. Through a brilliant cast, adept staging directions, and a wonderful set, he creates a humorous, slice of Russian upper-class in collapse.
May 21, 2012 by Miriam Sherwood in The Theatertreffen Blog
The surtitle situation
Surtitles has always been a topic of heated debate. If executed properly, surtitles enhance the production and create a larger audience, but many times this is not the case. Maybe it's better to do away with them and enjoy the language of theatre.
May 21, 2012 by Miriam Sherwood in The Theatertreffen Blog (1 Comments)
Photo by Miriam Sherwood
Opening night triple bill
Theatertreffen kicked off last night with a Sarah Kane triple bill – Gesäubert/Gier/4.48 Psychose (Cleansed/Crave/4.48 Psychosis). Lanterns, intrigue and frustration, as well as a singing interlude by Sandra Hüller, were in the mix.
May 5, 2012 by Miriam Sherwood in The Theatertreffen Blog (2 Comments)
Photo by Phile Deprez
Theatertreffen ticket time!
Showcasing the 10 most outstanding plays of the past season’s German-speaking theatre, tickets for Berlin’s own version of a theatrical Greatest Hits go on sale this Saturday, April 14.
Apr 13, 2012 by Miriam Sherwood in The Theatertreffen Blog
Theatertreffen 2012: Miriam illuminates what's coming
Theatertreffen may be over two months away, but that doesn't mean that the theatre scene isn't bustling wildly about in preparation for it (May 4-20). Theatertreffen Blog is partnering with Exberliner to give you the English lowdown.
Feb 24, 2012 by Miriam Sherwood in The Theatertreffen Blog
Theatertreffenblog: Getting to know you
The term “audience development” is a new one in Germany – so new, there’s not even one of those wonderful German compound words for it. And theatermakers are starting to ask themselves:Who is our audience? And how do we find them?
May 25, 2011 by Cory Tamler in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: Art is magic / It cannot succeed
Can a European really make a play that subjectively examines cultural exchange between Europe and Africa? Schlingensief ponders this dilemma from beyond the grave.
May 24, 2011 by Matt Cornish in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: Faust in Ethnic Drag?
Can a person who looks “Turkish” play classic “German” roles believably – I mean believable for white-bread, bourgeois audiences?
May 23, 2011 by Matt Cornish in The Berlin Blog (2 Comments)
Theatertreffenblog: Staging the gender imbalance
From the theme of the Talentetreffen, to a women-in-directing exhibit, to yesterday’s “Feminism: Today a Dirty Word?” discussion and more, gender has been a big topic at this year’s Theatertreffen.
May 20, 2011 by Cory Tamler in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: An American melodrama
After watching the Theatertreffen premiere of Death of Salesman, Matt Cornish and Leopold Lippert sit on the banks of the Spree to chat through what they just saw.
May 20, 2011 by Matt Cornish in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: I saw the Lion King: American theater through German eyes
During Friday night’s discussion in HAU 2, a panel debated the state of the “free theater scene” in Germany. Here’s my problem with the problems: in searching for answers, Germany isn’t looking any farther than its own backyard.
May 16, 2011 by Cory Tamler in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: A “post-migrant theatre” lexicon
What’s so hot about postmigrantisches Theater? This lexicon provides a little introduction to the immigration debate currently raging in Germany.
May 12, 2011 by Cory Tamler in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: Booing, wtf?
What's up with booing? Florian Duijsens watches Schauspiel Köln's The Cherry Orchard and tries to make sense of a Theatertreffen tradition.
May 11, 2011 by Florian Duijsens in The Berlin Blog (3 Comments)
Theatertreffenblog: Write a play, practice remembrance
Matt Cornish sits down for a short discussion with Polish playwright Małgorzata Sikorska-Miszczuk after the staged reading of her play Burmistrz, The Mayor.
May 10, 2011 by Matt Cornish in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: We just want to play
When you open your festival with a three-hour stream-of-consciousness deluge of text, tragedy, and water, what can possibly follow? The Theatertreffen’s answer: bring in its opposite. Der Biberpelz (The Beaver Coat).
May 10, 2011 by Cory Tamler in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: U-S-A!
A German, a Pole, a Romanian and an Englishman sit down for a discussion in front of an audience in Berlin.
May 10, 2011 by Matt Cornish in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: Waters rising
Elfriede Jelinek and Karin Beier explore natural, man-made disasters.
May 10, 2011 by Matt Cornish in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: Stücky!
Stückemarkt, the theoretical sibling of the Theatertreffen family, offered up panel discussions and an explanation on the characteristics of German theatre. The discussions may have been ill-conceived, but the eplanation was exceptional.
May 9, 2011 by Florian Duijsens in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: Saying no in a yes-world
Meet Cory Tamler, another illustrious blogger from the Theatertreffen world. She, along with Matt Cornish and Florian Duijsens, will be blogging throughout the course of the Theatertreffen to bring you the latest in Berlin theatre happenings.
May 7, 2011 by Cory Tamler in The Berlin Blog
Theatertreffenblog: Plagiacriticism: Berlin’s ‘Theatre Meeting’ Explained
Meet one of our new Theatertreffenblog partners, Matt Cornish. He's a playful one, as your about to find out in his intro to the year's Theatertreffen.
May 6, 2011 by Matt Cornish in The Berlin Blog
Your weekend: Save an attitude dealer
Record stores deal in two things. Attitude and records. And the world needs both, so make sure you go out on Record Store Day and support! Plus more stuff to do!
Apr 14, 2011 in The Berlin Blog (2 Comments)
Photo by Francis Storr (Francis Storr; Flickr CC)
Your Weekend: Are you crazy yet?
Read this blog and make Walter more famous than Gayle Tufts. Or just figure out what the hell you're doing for the weekend. There's no real escape from Christmas here though. Or baby Jesus.
Dec 23, 2010 by Walter Crasshole in The Berlin Blog (1 Comments)
Photo by Mike Burns (Mike Burns; Flickr CC)
Your Weekend: Come and go
Things rise and fall in Berlin. Such as the intensity of nightlife from weekend to weekend. We lose a few things here, gain some here. And Achtung: this weekend all this to and fro is cheaper to get to than ever.
Nov 26, 2010 by Walter Crasshole in The Berlin Blog