The festival’s opening day offers not just a theater performance, but also a philosophical discussion. On Thursday, November 6, philosopher Eva von Redecker’s opening speech titled “IN WILD CONNECTION” invites us to radically reimagine human action to achieve ecological and social freedom.
The program brings personal and political stories side by side:
TAKE CARE & STAY SAFE (Markus&Markus Theaterkollektiv): One of the festival’s most anticipated premieres. This performance explores decades-long correspondence between a prisoner pen pal and a theater artist, questioning concepts of freedom and societal participation.
ANGELALAND (Juliane Hendes): A performance that revisits Angela Merkel’s political legacy through the personal memories and identity of an East German character.
POPKORN (KMZ Kollektiv): This multimedia work, with corn as the protagonist, offers a sharp and experimental inquiry into the Maya creation myth, biotechnology, and humanity’s relationship with nature.
THE FLORENZER – L’AMORE MASCULINO (Vöcks de Schwindt): Set in Renaissance Florence, this performance imagines queer relationships and friendships through music and storytelling.
Comedy, Science Fiction, and Radical Kindness
The festival encompasses every emotional tone:
THE I-FILES – AN ALIEN STARES BACK (Doris Crea Kollektiv): This performance blends science fiction, humor, and empathy, examining the world from an alien’s perspective.
SURVIVAL OF THE FRIENDLIEST (Therese Lösch & Melina von Gagern): A hopeful work arguing how vital radical kindness is for survival.
Martin Luther Propaganda Piece – Reissue (Boris Nikitin): A reinterpreted propaganda piece by Martin Luther, offering a critical view on faith and history.
THE RETURN OF BARBARILLA (der Cora Frost): One of the festival’s “special” productions.
Every evening, the “BELIEVE IT OR NOT” After Show Lounge, held after the performances, provides a space for audiences to share their thoughts accompanied by music and conversation. Throughout the program, the festival supports artistic exchange, innovation, and collective connection.
Festival Information Summary
Theme: I Want to Believe
Venue: TD Berlin, Klosterstraße 44, 10179 Berlin
Dates: November 6 – 16, 2025
Important Note: The festival features 10 different world premieres.
