Die Distel is one of Germany's most tradition-rich cabaret theatres, founded in 1953 in East Berlin on Friedrichstraße. In GDR times the house was famous for its political cabaret on the narrow edge of what was permitted — the artists constantly balanced between criticism of the system and censorship, and many a punchline was understood by the audience without the censors ever intervening. After reunification, Die Distel continued its tradition of sharp-tongued political cabaret in reunified Berlin and today targets all-German politics. As one of the oldest continuously played cabaret stages in Germany, it is a living piece of German contemporary history. Its writers became masters of allusion, saying between the lines far more than the authorities would have permitted openly.
In the GDR the programmes had to be submitted to the censors — Die Distel's writers developed an art of allusion that said more between the lines than was permitted.
At a glance
- Type
- Theatre
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
- Address
- Friedrichstraße 101, 10117 Berlin
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