Theater | iHeartBerlin.de

Goodbye, Berlin! – Techno, Drugs and Fascism

photos: Frank R. Schröder.

With “Goodbye, Berlin!”, iconic theater maker Constanza Macras and her company Dorkypark premiered their latest production at Volksbühne a few weeks ago. Following in the footsteps of last year’s The Hunger, the piece takes contemporary issues and creates relations to a literary source – in this case, Christopher Isherwood’s beloved novel “Goodbye Berlin”. For us, this is a match made in heaven.

More or less unintentionally, the choice of the novel and its title became an alarming prospect when news broke in October that Macra’s collaboration with the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, her stage of the past couple of years, will not be extended beyond the current theater season. This means, “Goodbye, Berlin!” will potentially be the last Dorkypark production in Berlin, as many fans fear.

What Are You Hungry For? Colonialism meets TikTok on the Stage of Volksbühne

by Claudio | Tanz, Theater

photos: Frank R. Schröder.

The latest dance theater piece The Hunger by Costanza Macras and her company Dorky Park has taken Berlin by storm – and rightly so. This brilliant spectacle not only impresses with a unique cast, but also combines two themes on stage that are more topical than ever: Colonialism and the commodification of the self in the digital world. What follows is an animated review.

Like a music fairytale: the iHeartBerlin picnic at Staatsoper für Alle

by Paula | Entertainment, Events, Food, Mitte, Music, Theater

Summer arrives with one of our favorite events of the year: “Staatsoper für Alle” – the annual open-air classical music festival on Bebelplatz. And as every year, we have another special picnic pop-up for our readers to win seats for.

Emotions, pathos, singing, and fans: what sounds like a short and sweet description of the currently omnipresent European Football Championship applies just as much to the world of opera. And every summer, one of the core objectives of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden is to bring opera to life for everyone.

The Visitors: A Slasher Horror of Current Realities

by Frank | Tanz, Theater

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Today we have the pleasure and honor to help spread the word about a very special theater piece returning to the stage of Volksbühne Berlin on June 28-30: The Visitors by Constanca Macras / Dorkypark.

Macras has never been shy of taking a swing at big socio-political and socio-economic topics in her pieces such as gentrification, statelessness, migration, or marginalization. The Visitors is no exception here, as it deals with the consequences of Apartheid which is still a burning issue today. Especially, in times like these, it’s important for us to listen to the discourse in the arts and culture world, to counterbalance the noises of social media and ramblings of populism.

Sustainable Listening 5: Going to Work While the World Ends (or Nearly)?

by Claudio | Music, Theater

The unique event series, Sustainable Listening, curated by iHeartBerlin at Staatsoper Berlin, fuses classical music with pressing contemporary climate issues. This edition centered on how we allocate our time to work and whether it could be better spent saving the planet or simply relaxing.

Sustainable Listening #4 – How the Future of Food can Save the Planet

by Claudio | Art, Music, Theater

Our next chapter of the event series Sustainable Listening together with Staatsoper Berlin combined culinary innovation and climate responsibility. Themed around the food system and the Planetary Health Diet, this unique gathering blended classical and electronic music, creating a sensory journey into the realms of food and sustainability.

Despite inflation hitting the gastronomy scene, Berlin continues to offer an impressive range of culinary delights from around the world and for different pockets. The city’s commitment to vegan and vegetarian cuisine is evident, although the numbers show there’s still progress to be made. With only 5% of restaurants being exclusively plant-based, and 20% offering vegetarian or vegan menus, Berlin’s food landscape reflects a growing, shift towards sustainable eating.

The iHeartBerlin Picnic at Staatsoper für Alle – The Bliss of Classical Music

by Claudio | Music, Theater

Berlin is not a city known for its love of stability and traditions. Things change rapidly, and what may be your favorite party or restaurant today could easily become dull and uninteresting tomorrow. As Berliners, we are spoiled with an infinity of options. However, there are certain events that should never be overlooked and genuinely deserve the label of “timeless.”

One of these rare gems is the annual free open-air concert, Staatsoper für Alle, which transforms Bebelplatz into a magnificent arena for classical music. Even if you haven’t been a fan of opera music in the past, attending this event may change your perspective. It’s similar to the effect of being in a stadium surrounded by devoted fans; eventually, the music will resonate with you.

Experience the Magic: Sunset Concert & Classical Music Aperitivo with iHeartBerlin & Staatsoper Berlin

by Claudio | Music, Theater

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As Summer returns, so does one of our favorite happenings: “Staatsoper für Alle” – the annual open-air that transforms Bebelplatz Unter den Linden into an open-air arena for classical music. With free admission, live performances, and a special pop-up picnic organized by us, our readers are in for an unforgettable experience.

I guess most of our iHeartBerlin readers have been to an open-air party, a festival, or any other kind of music experience you can have beneath the summer sky. But over the years, I noticed how many see classical music as something that can only be experienced behind closed doors in big concert halls and so on. But what if one of the biggest and central public spaces in Berlin would become an open-air concert venue?

Creative Forces in Berlin: An Interview with Choreographer Constanza Macras

by Paula | People, Theater

photos: Frank R. Schröder.

Constanza Macras is one of the creative souls of Berlin, who enriches our favorite city through her ideas and impulses. Born in Buenos Aires, she studied dance and fashion design before a good mix of coincidence and purpose led her to Amsterdam, New York and, finally, to Berlin. In 2003 she founded the DorkyPark Company, an interdisciplinary ensemble that works with dance, text, live music, and film. In their latest piece DRAMA, which celebrated its premiere in January, a group of performers explores the possibilities of stage space in the post-pandemic age, probing the relationship between real stage space and virtual networks.

I had the chance to ask Constanza a few questions for iHeartBerlin about her new piece, her life, and her perspectives on the arts scene.

This week you can watch both DRAMA and their previous production The Future at Volksbühne on June 22 and 23.

Olympia Bukkakis’ Replay Is A Piece of Queer Heaven

by Frank | Theater

photos: Frank R. Schröder.

When I entered the main stage of the Sopiensaele theater on Wednesday evening and saw the three performers of Olympia Bukkakis’ new production “replay” twirling around in a set of silky white and translucent fabrics hanging from the ceiling like clouds I thought to myself: This must be a queer version of heaven.

The piece poses the question: What would happen if a drag queen and two non-binary performers would take charge? It would be a world where women like Breonna Taylor and Mahsa Amini would never be forgotten. A world where people from different backgrounds learn from each other in harmony. Where local drag queens get recognition before international pop stars. Where someone could break out in a Britney performance at any given moment. Where empathy, reflection, humor, and kindness are practiced with grace.

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