About angry women and understandable hatred: Schubert and Koch read Despentes!

About angry women and understandable hatred: Schubert and Koch read Despentes!

On November 4, 2025, Katharina Marie Schubert and Wolfram Koch will present a reading from Virginie Despentes' groundbreaking novel "Dear Asshole" at the Schwartzische Villa in Berlin. The novel deals with central themes such as #MeToo, abuse of power and feminism and thus reflects current social problems. Schubert and Koch, who are among the most important actors in German theater, adapt the story, which promotes dialogue between different perspectives. How reported, they bring a fresh artistic examination of the challenges of the present to the stage.

The plot focuses on three main characters: Rebecca, an actress in her fifties who has already achieved success in the business, Oscar, a 43-year-old writer struggling with the difficulties of his second novel, and Zoé, a radical feminist and social media activist under thirty. These characters come together digitally after a failed Instagram post, which addresses the toxic nature of online discussions. In her work, Despentes illuminates anger, hatred and the imperative need for understanding, tolerance and friendship, as well described becomes.

The characters are the focus

In the story, Oscar is confronted with depression after his “cancellation” and is inspired to post a negative Instagram post by Rebecca, who he meets in a café in Paris. Rebecca then reacts sharply and criticizes him in an email. This initial dislike turns over the course of the story into an unusual correspondence between the two, which forms one of the central narrative threads of the novel. The portrayal of the internet is overwhelmingly negative; it is described as a space where cruel and irresponsible statements are commonplace.

Zoé's role as a social media activist also brings to light the ambivalence of digital discourse: she receives both praise and fierce attacks, thus illustrating the dangers and challenges associated with the use of social media. The letters and email exchanges between Oscar and Rebecca provide a contrast to this negative portrayal and provide a space for deeper interpersonal insight, as in the analysis of researchers about the #MeToo movement.

The #MeToo movement, which was launched in 2017, has brought important issues surrounding power, violence and sexuality into public discussion. In order to achieve gender equality, socio-political structures must be continuously questioned. Hashtag activism plays a crucial role in making marginalized issues more visible, but also poses risks.

Details about the reading

The reading by Schubert and Koch will take place in the Great Salon of the Schwartzische Villa, Grunewaldstrasse 55, 12165 Berlin, at 7 p.m. Entry is 10 euros, and tickets are under www.pretix.de/kultur-berlin-sz available. This event, organized by the Steglitz-Zehlendorf Culture Department, offers a platform to discuss the important themes of the novel and their social relevance.

If you have any questions, you can contact press contact Maximilian Hagemeyer on 030 90299 2214 or by email at Maximilian.Hagemeyer@ba-sz.berlin.de. Further information is also available on 030 90 299 2302 and on www.berlin.de/kultur-steglitz-zehlendorf available.