|
Berlin remains a major cultural centre with dramatic arts playing a dominant role. The city has a rich theatrical history. Bertolt Brecht, after leaving Hollywood in the 1940s due to the rise of McCarthyism, settled in East Berlin and founded the famous Berliner Ensemble with his wife Helene Weigel. Although a card- carrying communist who toed the DDR line, Brecht still managed to maintain his Swiss bank account until he died. The actor and director Max Reinhardt (1873-1943), who was also a great theatre reformer, worked in Berlin at the Deutsches Theater. As well as setting up the Kammerspiele he also produced plays for the Berliner Ensemble. Today there is a host of theatres that offer dynamic, vibrant and extremely well-produced plays from more traditional performances to modern plays and monologues.The Volksbühne or “People's Stage” attracts bohos and conservatives alike. More experimental alternative theatre is on show here. Berliner Ensemble, Bertolt-Brecht-Platz 1, T 282 31 60, http://www.berliner-ensemble.de S-Bahn and U-Bahn Friedrichstr. The Berliner Ensemble, founded by Bertolt Brecht and Helene Weigel in 1949 after the ground-breaking production of Mouther Courage, moved to the lavish neo-baroque Theater am Schiffbauerdamm in 1954. Its productions are still innovative and avant-garde. Deutsches Theater/Kammerspiele des Deutschen Theaters, Schumannstr. 13A, T 28 44 12 25, http://www.deutsches-theater.berlin.net S-Bahn and U-Bahn Friedrichstr. This elegant 19th-century theatre houses the resident state drama company. The productions are always undoubtedly good with a wide repertoire from German classics such as Lessing’s Emilia Galotti to modern experiments like Doktor Caligari. Contemporary foreign playwrights such as Neil La Bute are also popular. Maxim Gorki Theater, Am Festungsgraben 2, T 20 22 11 15, http://www.gorki.de S-Bahn and U-Bahn Friedrichstr. The Gorki Theater looks rather grand from the outside but once inside it seems almost like a doll’s- house stage. However, this by no means diminishes its productions. The plays are usually slick, funny and poignant. Chekhov is a favourite here but young German playwrights are also represented. Volksbühne, Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, T 247 67 72/76 94, http://www.volksbuehne-berlin.de U-Bahn Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. A predominantly political theatre following the tradition set by its name "The People’s Stage". The two directors, Sebastian Hartmann and Thomas Bischoff, contribute to the success of the playhouse with plays attracting audiences from all parts of the community.
|
