Berlin 1920 – a burlesque

When the curtain of night falls on the city glowing with light, a world awakens that can hardly be surpassed in its decadence, eroticism and vain dreams. Whilst the rhythmic stamping of the trains arriving and departing mixes with the concert of horns from the countless cars on the streets, an illustrious public rushes to fill the great review theatres. From concert halls and pleasure palaces can be heard the rough voices of the chansonniers shouting the latest compositions out into the world. The wild rhythms of the jazz bands spur dancing couples on to ever greater contortions, whilst in the drag clubs, men in feather boas and sequinned gowns pounce on women in top hat and tails. In the middle of all this stand two closely entwined people tightly hugging each other and dreaming of a better future …

The date is 1920. Amidst the turmoil of inflation and the rumblings of the dark storm that will break over the whole of Europe just a short while later, the metropolis of Berlin invites everyone to a last, delirious dance on the volcano. Together with his ensemble, ballet director Karl Alfred Schreiner reveals the extremes of a dazzling yet merciless era. To the music of composers such as Hanns Eisler and Ernst Krenek and the most exciting hits of the time, he creates a boisterous burlesque which holds the mirror up to a decadent society that is addicted to pleasure!