Theatertreffen 2018

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, Wolfgang Höbel, Andreas Klaeui, Dorothea Marcus, Christian Rakow and Shirin Sojitrawalla watched and discussed a total of 409 productions during the past 12 months and made their selection of the ten most remarkable productions in 2017:

“Am Königsweg (The Royal Road)” by Elfriede Jelinek
Directed by Falk Richter | Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg

“BEUTE FRAUEN KRIEG” A Cycle at the Schiffbau Text version created using “Die Troerinnen” by John von Düffel, based on Euripides (interlineary translation Gregor Schreiner) and “Iphigenie in Aulis” by Soeren Voima, based on Euripides.
Directed by Karin Henkel | Schauspielhaus Zürich

“Die Odyssee. Eine Irrfahrt nach Homer (The Odyssey. A wandering journey based on Homer)”
Directed by Antú Romero Nunes | Thalia Theater, Hamburg

“Die Welt im Rücken (The World at Your Back)” based on the novel of the same title by Thomas Melle
Directed by Jan Bosse | Burgtheater, Vienna

“Faust” based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Directed by Frank Castorf | Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Berlin (under the Artistic Direction of Frank Castorf)

“Mittelreich” Musical theatre based on the novel by Josef Bierbichler, based on the production by Anna-Sophie Mahler
Conceived and directed by Anta Helena Recke | Münchner Kammerspiele
A production by Münchner Kammerspiele and Anta Helena Recke

“Nationaltheater Reinickendorf” by Vegard Vinge / Ida Müller
Nationaltheater Reinickendorf, Berlin. Production Vinge / Müller & Berliner Festspiele/Immersion

“Rückkehr nach Reims (Returning to Reims)” based on the novel of the same title by Didier Eribon
German translation by Tobias Haberkorn. Text version by Schaubühne.
Directed by Thomas Ostermeier | Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin
Coproduction with Manchester International Festival (MIF), HOME Manchester and Théâtre de la Ville Paris

“Trommeln in der Nacht (Drums in the Night)” by / based on Bertolt Brecht
Directed by Christopher Rüping | Münchner Kammerspiele

“Woyzeck” Drama by Georg Büchner
Directed by Ulrich Rasche | Theater Basel

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).