SAVE THE DATE Berlin Performing Arts Festival - May 19 – 24, 2020

The fifth edition of the Berlin Performing Arts Festival gives us a wonderful opportunity to try something new!



In the last few weeks, a six-person selection committee, together with the festival directors Sarah Israel and Tessa Hartig, has reviewed and discussed all the submissions together. Now the selection is final.



Drawing from current societal questions, theme-based series of programming will allow an exciting prism of aesthetics and perspectives to come into focus this year – and invite visitors to discover Berlin as a theater city. The titles of the series of programming are inspired by well-known pop songs and deals with themes such as threats to the world and living environments (It’s the End of the World As We Know It), reflections on the realities of life (Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood), the reconsideration of urban life and society (We Built This City on Rock 'n' Roll), loneliness as a societal phenomenon (Violently Happy), the place of human beings in the digital era (Virtual Insanity) or the feeling of emptiness within economic prosperity (Forget About the Price Tag).



With the continuation of the established newcomer’s platform Introducing…, young newcomers to Berlin’s independent performing arts community will have the opportunity to present themselves at the performance venues Ballhaus Ost, HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Sophiensæle and Theaterdiscounter this year as well. 



The new format PAF Show & Tell will be the highlight for everyone looking to network at the festival. With live presentations in an open studio format, table conversations, a DJ and sparkling wine on ice, May 23, 2020 will bring together members of Berlin's independent performing arts community, visiting industry professionals, colleagues and other interested parties for a shared showcase experience, neatly rounding out the artistic offers. 



The schedule of programming will be supplemented by ancillary programming as well as special formats and events for German and international professionals. 

Artists performing within the festival include, amongst others: ____gemelos2000 & guests, animi motus, Anke Schiemann, Anna Nowicka, Bnaya Halperin-Kaddari, Bridge Markland, bücking&kröger, Caroline Creutzburg, Catia Gatelli, Karina Villavicencio, Christiane Rösinger, copy & waste, Daniela Marcozzi / Marcozzi Contemporary Theater, Dirk Cieslak, Gerko Egert, Stefan Hölscher & Netta Weiser, Do-Theatre, ELEKTRO KAGURA, gamut inc, hannsjana, Hans Unstern, Holy Conflict / Jahman Davine, internil, Johannes Müller / Philine Rinnert, Julia Förster & Christian Wehmeier, Kanaltheater, Laura Rolim de Carvalho, Maria Turik, Menade, mikala hyldig dal, Oliver Zahn, ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS, Petra Schönwald, Raphael Hillebrand, Sabrina Strehl, Schauplatz International, Sweet Phoebe Theatre, Tanja Krone, Theater unterm Dach, Thermoboy FK, Viola Köster & Ren Saibara and Yoriko Maeno.



Contact for further information: 

Thomas Fabian Eder 

International Coordination & PAF Show & Tell

Tel.: +49 (0)30 303 466 28

[email protected]



The Berlin Performing Arts Festival is organized by LAFT - Landesverband freie darstellende Künste Berlin in cooperation with the performance venues Ballhaus Ost, HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Sophiensæle and Theaterdiscounter and is funded by the State of Berlin – Senate Department for Culture and Europe.