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Theatertreffen meets EXBERLINER

Get ready: on May 6, Berlin begins buzzing with theatrical energy as Theatertreffen hits the scene. This year EXBERLINER teams up with Theatertreffen blog to give you coverage of the drama.

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Mad Blood. Photo by Ute Langkafel

Get ready: on May 6, Berlin begins buzzing with theatrical energy as Theatertreffen hits the scene. And tickets go on sale tomorrow, April 9, and they’re gonna go fast! This year EXBERLINER cooperates with Theatertreffen blog to give you extensive coverage of the drama.

The Theatertreffen festival traditionally presents the 10 best plays from the German-speaking world, serving up a wonderful opportunity to see the best these stages have to offer. This year even those who do not speak the Teutonic tongue will be able to sample their selection, as the festival reaches out to them (okay, us) by presenting five plays with English surtitles: Tchekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Testament (performed by Berlin’s own She She Bop), Mad Blood, The Beaver Coat, and Schiller’s classic Don Carlos.

Though this means we’ll have to grab balcony seats as soon as the tickets go on sale on the morning of April 9, we can now feel confident to mingle amidst the drama dorks at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele and discuss the shocking fact that for the first time a third of the selected plays have been directed by women.

Then there is the Stückemarkt, where 10 more selected plays are presented as table reads directed by acclaimed directors. Here too the organizers have thought of us, as English translations are made available to those interested via [email protected].

As part of the Nachtmusik program, Erika Stucky, the quirky singer that delivered Suicidal Yodels, will perform her newest project, Ping Pong – a collaboration of instruments and computers with Knut Jensen. Her musical contribution to this theater frenzy takes place on May 13 in Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Kassenhalle at 23:30.

To show our appreciation for all this Deutsch-to-English action, EXBERLINER has decided to throw its weight behind the festival and cover the festival with ticket giveaways (stay tuned!) and by presenting the work of the festival’s dedicated English-language bloggers Cory Tamler and Matt Cornish, as well as that of myself. You’ll also find us at the Theatertreffen blog, which will play host to audio documentaries, cartoons, photo galleries, and continuous coverage leading up to and during the festival.

Check out the program, pick some sweet seats, and check back here in May for more!