Theatertreffen 2017

The Berlin Theatertreffen is truly an Olympic event of German-language theatre. In accordance with its statutes, the festival invites the ten most remarkable theatre productions from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to Berlin in May every year.

The members of the Theatertreffen jury, Margarete Affenzeller, Eva Behrendt, Till Briegleb, Dorothea Marcus, Christian Rakow, Stephan Reuter and Shirin Sojitrawalla watched and discussed a total of 377 productions during the past 12 months and made their selection of the ten most remarkable productions in 2017:

89/90, based on the novel by Peter Richter, directed by Claudia Bauer, Schauspiel Leipzig

Der Schimmelreiter (The Rider on the White Horse) by Theodor Storm, directed by Johan Simons, Thalia Theater, Hamburg

Die Borderline Prozession (The Borderline Procession), Ein Loop um das, was uns trennt (A loop on what divides us), by Kay Voges, Dirk Baumann and Alexander Kerlin, directed by Kay Voges, Schauspiel Dortmund

Die Räuber (The Robbers), by Friedrich Schiller, directed by Ulrich Rasche, Residenztheater, Munich

Die Vernichtung (The Extermination), by Ersan Mondtag and Olga Bach, directed by Ersan Mondtag, Konzert Theater Bern

Drei Schwestern (Three Sisters) by Simon Stone based on Anton Chekhov, directed by Simon Stone, Theater Basel

Five Easy Pieces by Milo Rau, directed by Milo Rau, a production by International Institute of Political Murder and CAMPO Gent, premiere at Sophiensaele Berlin

Pfusch (Botch) by Herbert Fritsch, directed by Herbert Fritsch, Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Berlin

Real Magic by Forced Entertainment, conceived and directed by Forced Entertainment, artistic director: Tim Etchells, world premiere at PACT Zollverein Essen

Traurige Zauberer (Sad Magicians), A silent comedy with music by Thom Luz, directed by Thom Luz

Programme and Prizes

The presentation of the best in German-language theatre is accompanied by a varied programme of further events: public debate with renowned guests from culture, politics and business creates links between theatre and social and political issues. Theatre fans come to the Haus der Berliner Festspiele to attend prize ceremonies, discussions with the audience, première parties and concerts.

Under the title TT Talente, the Theatertreffen gives up-and-coming artists their own platform: the Stückemarkt, which first took place in 1978, presents new plays by undiscovered European playwrights in a "festival within a festival" and has also featured a guest theatre project since 2012. The International Forum and the Theatertreffen-Blog offer young theatre-makers and critics the opportunity to develop their professional experience.

The following prizes will be awarded at the Theatertreffen: The 3sat-Prize (since 1997), the Alfred Kerr Award for Acting (since 1991) and the Theater Prize Berlin donated by the Stiftung Preußische Seehandlung (since 1988).