Why Are the Left Also to Blame for the Right?

Theatertreffen 2026 | Drama and Discourse

– In einer Zeichnung in den Farben orange und grün halten sich Besucher*innen im Oberen Foyer des Haus der Berliner Festspiele auf

A conversation about defensive reflexes, diagonal careers and cardboard cut-outs

With Diedrich Diederichsen and Ruprecht Polenz

Three Times Left is Right might be an accurate way of giving directions but as a political statement it raises questions. Julian Hetzel’s eponymous work explores a story that fascinated the media and was even covered in The New York Times. How in this age of polarisation can an old left winger raise a family with a member of the new right?

What is so fascinating about the story has a lot to do with the notions of “left” and “right” circulating in the media. That one of them has many good intentions but is sadly prone to exaggeration. That the other is an opinion that must be permitted to be expressed. That it is presumably possible to live comfortably between the two in the political centre. This conversation with the pop theorist Diedrich Diederichsen and the former CDU General Secretary Ruprecht Polenz will not focus on the usual attempts to explain but on the real questions: why is right-wing rhetoric so successful? Why can people usually avoid responsibility for their right-wing views? And what can be done to counter this.

 

With

Diedrich Diederichsen – Pop Theorist

Ruprecht Polenz – Former CDU General Secretary

Moderation Matthias Dell – Theatre, Film and Media Critic

Next date:

• Date Sunday, 03/May/2026 18:30
• Venue Haus der Berliner Festspiele - Oberes Foyer
• Address Schaperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin-Wilmersdorf