The Berliner Ensemble was founded in 1949 by Bertolt Brecht and Helene Weigel and continues to perform in the historic Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, where Die Dreigroschenoper had its world premiere in 1928. The elegant neo-baroque building, located on Bertolt-Brecht-Platz near the Friedrichstraße Bahnhof, dates from 1892 and has been a central venue of Berlin theatrical life since its construction. Under Brecht's artistic leadership, the Berliner Ensemble became the most internationally influential theatre of the twentieth century, defining concepts of political theatre, ensemble acting, and didactic storytelling that transformed theatrical practice worldwide. Brecht directed his own works—Mutter Courage, Der kaukasische Kreidekreis, Die Mutter—in legendary productions that toured Paris, London, and other capitals. After the collapse of the GDR, the house has continued under Claus Peymann and Oliver Reese to combine Brechtian heritage with contemporary international repertoire.
Above the stage portal still reads "To the True, the Beautiful, the Good" — in GDR times Brecht pointedly hung NO socialist motto over it, which was tolerated.
At a glance
- Type
- Theatre
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
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