Profile

Berliner Ensemble is one of the most renowned and long-standing theatres in Germany. Named after Bertolt Brecht’s world-famous company, Berliner Ensemble has written theatre history. Throughout its 125-year history, the theatre on Schiffbauerdamm has always addressed issues of current social relevance, and from the 2017/18 season, the beginning of Oliver Reese’s tenure as Artistic Director, Berliner Ensemble once again places a stronger focus on contemporary texts and topics.

In the tradition of its former Artistic Directors, Bertolt Brecht and Heiner Müller, and under its new director Oliver Reese, Berliner Ensemble directs its attention on theatre that reflects upon our present times. Beside works by Bertolt Brecht, the repertoire features current topics and contemporary plays by living authors examining the urgent issues of our times on stage. 

At the core of this theatre is its acting company. Currently, Berliner Ensemble has 26 permanently employed actors, among them Constanze Becker, Nico Holonics, Corinna Kirchhoff, Tilo Nest, Marc Oliver Schulze and Stefanie Reinsperger.

Apart from the acting company, a continuous cooperation with pioneering directors like Andrea Breth, Frank Castorf, Mateja Koležnik, Barrie Kosky, Ersan Mondtag, Luk Perceval, Yana Ross und Christina Tscharyiski significantly contributes to Berliner Ensemble’s profile. Modern productions are presented, as well as innovative theatre formats.

In its largest auditorium, the neo-baroque building on Schiffbauerdamm, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2017, holds around 700 audience members. Since September 2019, the Berliner Ensemble has two new venues to complete the BE quarter on Schiffbauerdamm: The Neues Haus (180 seats) and the Werkraum (99 seats).