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Twelfth Night (BIYT)

“If music be the food of love…”

Get ready for Berlin International Youth Theatre to whisk you away on a wild ride of romance, mischief, gender-bending and 1980s bangers in their new production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Welcome to the kingdom of Illyria. While the lovesick Duke Orsino pines, the wealthy Countess Olivia mourns and the pompous steward Malvolio dreams of greatness. Then along comes Viola, washed ashore from a shipwreck and separated from her beloved twin Sebastian.

To survive in this foreign land, Viola must disguise herself as a boy and go to work in Orsino’s court. However, in doing so she will create a love triangle so tangled, only time will tell how it ends!

Expect fun, frolics and some big karaoke numbers, as the BIYT ensemble return to the stage, putting their rambunctious spin on Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy.

“If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction”

Due to the large size of our ensemble, five of the larger roles are double cast, which means the following actors will play the following parts on each set of performances:

Thursday, June 26 and Saturday, June 28

Viola – Eloise Torabi

Olivia – Elissa Weber

Toby Belch – Ever Morshed Solouk

The Fool – Ava Riding

Malvolio – Aro Hübner

 

Friday, June 27 and Sunday, June 29

Viola – Sheila Sadigova

Olivia – Selya-Melek Özer

Toby Belch – Clara Meinecke

The Fool – Nidal Bradlow

Malvolio – Ines Köhler

 

The following parts will be played by the same actor at every performance:

Orsino – Yvette Avierinos

Maria – Frieda Hoch

Andrew Aguecheek – Yaroslava Gerasymenko

Antonio – Eden Rosenthal

Sebastian – Isabella Härtel

Tale of the Rebel Waves

Fourteen years ago, we had our very first Berlin International Youth Theatre production: Tale of the Rebel Waves told the adventures of a magical ship crewed by feisty pirate maids. This June, we will visit that place again to find out how it all began.

It all starts with the unexpected acquisition of an enchanted ship; two young women quickly assemble a motley crew and set off in search of a treasure as precious as it is deadly. This sparkling rainbow of talented young actors between the ages of 14 and 19 play a colorful collection of sailors, thieves, clerks, gamblers, nuns and monsters, some friendly and some not so much. With sea shanties, stunning costumes and terrifying effects, we are swept away to a never-never land where dark fears and bright hopes sail together in a sea of dreams. This is, of course, a place we remember from long ago, but this time it‘s not Peter Pan who‘s having all the fun.

On Sunday June 16, the audience is encouraged to dress up in their favorite pirate gear for a costume contest!

Rumors in the Shadows

Berlin International Youth Theatre takes a trip to the castle of Henry VIII in the year 1535, where the power of rumor can cost you your head.

In this era of the internet, it’s hard to believe that we are as just easily manipulated as we were centuries ago. Drowning in a sea of misinformation while the one percent call the shots.

Our story: While the sneaky servant observes everything, the king’s trusted page is sent to spread fake news to incriminate Queen Anne Boleyn. Her loyal fans don’t believe it and try to stop the rumors. Other rumors are circulating as well, the ladies-in-waiting are running scared, everyone knows King Henry is a sexual predator but no one dares to do anything about it. Still more rumors are spreading which question the king’s sanity. We all know how this ends for the queen but how does it end for the pawns?

The Theory of Waiting

by Berlin International Youth Theatre

Loosely based on Samuel Beckett´s Waiting for Godot and inspired by the deep frustrations experienced in the time of the pandemic, BIYT presents an investigation into the perplexing questions that will just not go away.

You know the story, two friends wait endlessly for something. They try to do things right. They really do. But it´s just taking too darn long and soon trouble arrives offering a welcome distraction. We have all been there…

 

 

Murder at Brightshadow Manor

To attend the performance, you must wear an FFP2 mask and present a negative antigen quick test for COVID-19 that is not older than 24 hours or proof for you complete vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. Please book a test date in advance from an official test center, e.g. www.test-to-go-berlin. Please observe our health and safety measures. Our guests must wear an FFP2 mask during their entire visit to the theater, including during the performance.

Zugang mit FFP2-Maske und aktuellem negativen Antigen-Schnelltest (nicht älter als 24 Stunden) oder Nachweis des vollständigen Impfschutzes bzw. der Genesung. Bitte buchen Sie vorab eigenständig Ihren verbindlichen Testtermin bei einem offiziellen Testzentrum, bspw. über www.test-to-go.berlin. Bitte beachten Sie unsere Hygiene- und Schutzmaßnahmen und tragen Sie während Ihres gesamten Besuchs eine FFP2-Maske, auch während der Vorstellung.

Please note that we are only able to offer 35 tickets for this performance.

Featuring a cast of nine eccentric characters (including an actual ghost) and inspired by the classic Edwardian farce, this brand new play has touches of Agatha Christie, the Addams Family and a hint of Tim Burton, too.

YOU-ME-HUMAN-TREE

A note on tickets: due to the current hygiene regulations, our seating is strictly limited. We can offer either single seats or double seats (for members of the same household). Double seats allow us to accommodate nearly twice the number of guests and we would be greatly appreciative if you can arrange to purchase them as much as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our box office staff at tickets@etberlin.de.

A performance co-created by humans and trees of all different ages, experiences and backgrounds

Together, we are celebrating interconnectedness through interspecies storytelling that crosses time and space.

In February of 2020, English Theatre Berlin | International Performing Arts Center began a community theater project open to people of all ages. Our initial question was simple: if trees could talk, what would they say? This led us on a journey of collaboration, experimentation and contemplation. Together we walked in Tegel forest, shared memories of trees, delved into mythology and the news, discussed evolution with a scientist and observed the trees in Kreuzberg.

A unique and exciting performance has grown from the seeds of play and curiosity: YOU-ME-HUMAN-TREE was devised by an intergenerational ensemble of over 20 people and contains elements of physical theater, music, storytelling, puppetry, dance, burlesque, poetry and performance art.

The project team is deeply grateful to their project partners exploratorium berlin and die gelbe Villa for their input and support and would like to give special thanks to Professor Kurt Zoglauer of Humboldt University for kindly giving us his time.

Order our Zine online!

The entire team has spent a lot of time making a beautiful 32-page zine full of pictures, insight into the creation of the performance and background information. Take a look for yourself by clicking right HERE!

Physical copies of the zine can be ordered exclusively online for the price of 6 EUR and will be given to you at the performance. If you would like to order one, simply send an email to tickets@etberlin.de with the subject Zine. We’ll confirm the purchase and make sure that your zine is waiting for you when you come to see the show.

The project is funded by Jugend- und Familienstiftung des Landes Berlin and Kreuzberger Kinderstiftung.

 

          

          

 

 

 

Electra

ETB | IPAC & Berlin International Youth Theatre present

HARVARD COLLEGE STUDENTS with their production of the Sophocles classic, Electra, featuring Turkish TV star Ece Hakim.

A moving exploration of family and justice: Thousands of years ago, King Agamemnon ruled over Mycenae alongside his wife Clytemnestra and his four children Iphigenia, Electra, Orestes and Chrysothemis. All was well until Agamemnon’s sister in law, Helen, was taken to Troy. Now it was up to him to command the Greek armed forces into the infamous Trojan War which would claim many victims, including Agamemnon’s daughter Iphigenia, whom he sacrificed to the Gods in exchange for a strategic advantage. Upon his return, Agamemnon was murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover. Electra, along with her dead father’s adviser, organized the kidnapping of her youngest brother Orestes, with the intent of training the young boy to one day avenge his father and murder his mother. Fifteen years later, Orestes returns to fulfill his murderous destiny…

This is the latest production by director Isaiah Michalski, actor of Lars Kraume’s award-winning film The Silent Revolution (Das schweigende Klassenzimmer). Michalski studies theater at Harvard College and is currently participating in the Schaubühne’s prestigious apprenticeship program.

The show will include an original score and live music by composer Marie Carroll.

 

Feathers in the Fire

ATTENTION: OFF-SITE PERFORMANCE at Reduta Schauspielbühne Gneisenaustr. 41 | HH

We all know the ancient tale of the boy who ignored his father’s warnings and flew too close to the sun. But do we really? The tale we think we know has been twisted and altered at the tyrannical hands of King Minos and his followers. It’s about time to shed some light on what really happened.

On May 25 and 26, the Berlin International Youth Theatre Ensemble will reveal the true story of Icarus to you (according to their sources) in the form of the original play Feathers in the Fire.

While King Minos wages his ugly war, a small but not insignificant group of teenage resisters plans a deadly rescue mission. Two important members, Iris and Icarus, are the strong-willed offspring of Daedalus, who happens to be the king’s favorite designer of weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to the usual family conflicts, this really is a recipe for disaster.

Our story, however, really begins on Mount Olympus, hanging out with the gods, useless, vain and bored out of their minds. A dangerous combination.

Using epic storytelling, elements of the Greek chorus and physical theater, the BIYT Ensemble, featuring actors between the ages 14 and 19, reboot this ancient myth as a sneakily humorous yet visceral and haunting tale that strays wildly (and joyously) from all of the versions we’ve heard before.

BIYT LAB – The Time Machine Team

A fast-paced adventure story filled with twists and turns

After an apocalyptic energy crisis, an odd group of specialists are brought together to create a machine which can transport them back into time. Their mission: solve the energy problem and repair time itself. No big deal, right? Wrong. This seemingly impossible task must be completed or the planet is doomed. The team just might have a chance, if they could only get along. Unfortunately, their personal differences are so extreme that discord threatens to destroy what little chance they have of survival.

This is very first public performance of an original play written completely by the 2019 BIYT Lab group, whose members are between the ages of 11 and 14.

TRIBAL SCHMIBAL – A Parable

The 2018 summer show by Berlin International Youth Theatre (BIYT)

Tribalism divides communities – Elucidate – you have 45 minutes

With these words begins the lively myth of the Whooziwhatzits.

Given the assignment (by an absent teacher) to explain the statement the students begin to weave a tale that is both as familiar as it is absurd. And tragically true (well at least based on a true story).

An alternate version of history. A parable about the eternal battle of inheritance between two brothers and the fate of two tribes.

The classic tale. Since the beginning of time.

We begin our story in an average Berlin classroom. Which is divided by music allegiances as is usually the case. Although music should unite us, for them it’s a sign of their tribe, separating the cool from the silly.

And suddenly there is a Jinn, a slippery figure from the shadows, If it wasn’t for her, everyone would be living happily ever after. But as human nature has its light and dark side so does the Jinn. Mainly dark, though. And the darkness feeds the lies.

A cast of eleven talented young people bring this tale to life using physicality, body percussion and song.