Premiere in Tegel: prison theater brings Shakespeare behind grids!

Premiere in Tegel: prison theater brings Shakespeare behind grids!

The prison theater "Departure" in the Tegel prison in Berlin, with anticipation announces the start of the new open -air season. From June 3, 2025, Shakespeare’s violent tragedy "Titus Andronicus" will be performed. By June 27, a total of ten performances in the courtyard of the Tegel correctional facility are planned. This staging brings dramatic substances from detainees to the stage and addresses important social issues.

The piece is about Titus Andronicus, a Roman general. After his victory in the war against the Goths, Titus brings the Gothic queen Tamora and three of her sons as trophies to Rome. The subsequent execution of Tamora's oldest son leads to a disturbing revenge cycle between Goths and Romans. Central topics such as power, civilization, barbarism and the representation of values ​​are dealt with here, the question of identity is also raised. Heiner Müller's quote "Where the self -defense stops, the murder begins" reflects the current conflicts that are discussed in this piece.

The challenges of financing

The production manager Sibylle Arndt, however, indicates the financial difficulties that the theater project is created due to massive savings in the Berlin budget. Funding is unsure about what endangers the continuity of cooperation with the detained. The project is currently secured by funds from the Lotto Foundation, which supports non-profit projects by funds. For the years 2026 and beyond, however, there is no information about financial support from the state budget.

Arndt describes the financial situation as "life in the mouth" and emphasizes the need to find alternative financing channels such as sponsorship, third -party funds or fines. The success of the theater strongly depends on its ability to acquire these means.

The transformative power of the theater

The prison theater is not only committed to artistic performances, but also for the re -socialization of the occupants. During a conference on prison theater, the transformative power of the theater in prison was recognized. Theater not only offers the detainees a creative valve, but also promotes a change of perspective and contributes to emotional stability. Talks about the challenges of artistic work in the prison system illustrated the importance of support from both the inner life of the prison and the company.

The Ensemble of the JVA Tegel plays under the direction of Peter Atanassow, while the stage design of Holger Syrbe is designed. The musical direction is in the hands of VSEVOLOD SILKIN, and choreographic elements of Suzann Bolick are also integrated into the staging. Tickets for the open-air event cost 18 euros (reduced 12 euros) and have been available since May 24th. Visitors are pointed out to bring weather -appropriate clothing with them because the performance will take place without roofing. Railways are not permitted on the premises of the prison.

With "Titus Andronicus", the prison theater not only intends to make the dramatic elements of Shakespeare's work tangible, but also to reflect problematic topics such as violence and vigilante justice in a way that both the actors and the audience thinks.

For more information about the staging and activities of the prison theater, the Official website can be visited. You can find out more about the challenges and the depth of theater projects in the context of the prison in a report from the Conference in Bremen . Finally, an article by rbb24 "Departure".