A dystopian coming-of-age on the Berliner Ensemble stage

How are things with Paul? Marie asks. Fine, says Karin. But nothing is fine. Based on Charlotte Gneuß's acclaimed debut novel (nominated for the German Book Prize 2023), this psychological thriller unfolds the story of 16-year-old Karin, whose ordinary teenage life shatters when she awakens into a world where the state controls both truth and lies.

Set against the backdrop of the former East Germany, director Leonie Rebentisch's visceral adaptation explores what happens when a girl discovers that truth itself can become dangerous. As her boyfriend mysteriously disappears, Karin must navigate an oppressive landscape where silence becomes survival, and knowing what is real becomes a liability that could betray those closest to her.

This is intimate, uncompromising theatre about the cost of living under state power — not preachy or simplified, but deeply human. Amelie Willberg's haunting performance captures the quiet resilience of a teenager caught between worlds, while Fabian Kuss's music and Sabine Mäder's set design create an atmosphere of psychological clarity and tension.

Running 1 hour 50 minutes with no intermission.

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