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Dieter Hallervorden's Theater Baby Turns 18 with Political Satire
🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

Dieter Hallervorden's Theater Baby Turns 18 with Political Satire

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Actor and theater director Dieter Hallervorden is opening his 18th season at Berlin's Schlosspark Theater with a political satire.
  • The play, 'Putsch - Anleitung zur Zerstörung einer Demokratie,' features a cabaret artist rising to lead a populist party, with Hallervorden's daughter noting any resemblance to real figures is unintentional.
  • Hallervorden, who is actively campaigning against the AfD party in regional elections, considers the Schlosspark Theater his favorite of his theatrical ventures.

Dieter Hallervorden, the veteran German actor and theater director, is launching the 18th season of his Schlosspark Theater in Berlin with a provocative political satire. The play, titled 'Putsch - Anleitung zur Zerstörung einer Demokratie' (Putsch - Instructions for Destroying a Democracy), begins the season with a story about a cabaret artist whose controversial jokes lead to her becoming the candidate for a populist party.

Similarities to living persons are of course completely unintentional, as you can imagine.

— Nathalie HallervordenDaughter and director of the Schlosspark Theater, commenting on the play 'Putsch - Anleitung zur Zerstörung einer Demokratie.'

Hallervorden's daughter and the theater's director, Nathalie Hallervorden, commented on the play's themes, stating, "Similarities to living persons are of course completely unintentional, as you can imagine." The production aims to be a provocative comedy that prompts audiences to consider issues of freedom of speech, censorship, and populism.

This season opens as Hallervorden, 90, is actively involved in the state election campaign in Saxony-Anhalt, working to prevent an AfD government. Berlin also faces its own parliamentary elections in September. Hallervorden took over the Schlosspark Theater in December 2008, reopening it in September 2009 after renovations. He also manages the Die Wühlmäuse cabaret in Berlin and the Mitteldeutsche Theater in his birthplace, Dessau.

And this child I love particularly.

— Dieter HallervordenDescribing the Schlosspark Theater, which he took over in 2008.

Describing the Schlosspark Theater, which he invested a significant sum in for its renovation, Hallervorden expressed deep affection, calling it his "favorite child." He noted that the theater was born under difficult circumstances and is now approaching its 18th year, a milestone he likens to reaching adulthood. The season's program also includes other notable productions, such as Gur Koren's "Was ist los mit der Welt?!" (What's Wrong with the World?!), "Die Sternstunde des Josef Bieder" (The Finest Hour of Josef Bieder) starring Hans-Joachim Heist, and "Jugendliebe" (Young Love) with Kai Wiesinger. Actress Brigitte Grothum will reprise her role in "Ein deutsches Leben" (A German Life), which she described as a crucial warning about how easily people can fall prey to propaganda machinery.

This piece is a warning about how quickly people can fall prey to a propaganda machine.

— Brigitte GrothumActress discussing her role in the play 'Ein deutsches Leben.'
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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