Mocha Hits and Milk Bar Dreams

– Jan Windszus Photography

Director Axel Ranisch and Musical Director Adam Benzwi (the hit-maker behind Messeschlager Gisela) bring the GDR to the stage – with its pop hits, its songs, its dances (the Lipsi!), and all its contradictions. Together, they have created a soundtrack to four decades of GDR history that takes us – with energy, plenty of humor, and a good dose of biting wit – from the hopeful beginnings through political stagnation to the euphoria of reunification, followed by a rude awakening.

Along the way, we encounter the hits of major stars—from Gaby Rückert and Helga Hahnemann to Frank Schöbel and Karel Gott – as well as songs by Brecht/Eisler and Wolf Biermann. We dive into the Hot Summer of 1968 (a cinematic success with delightfully crazy choreography) and bring international show acts from the famous GDR F1 entertainment program Ein Kessel Buntes back to life – with warm regards from Katja Ebstein!

Amid all the music, scenes from the East Berlin cabaret “Distel” also find their place, including material that remains unpublished to this day (because it was censored at the time). That’s when a "Kessel Buntes" can really come under pressure!

Artists/Collaborators: Wolfgang Behrens (Dramaturgie), Adam Benzwi (Musikalische Leitung), Inga Diestel (Chöre), Alfred Mayerhofer (Kostüme), Axel Ranisch (Szenische Einrichtung), Johannes Scherfling (Licht), Mariana Souza (Mitarbeit Choreografie), Christopher Tölle (Choreografie), Saskia Wunsch (Bühnenbild), Maria-Danaé Bansen, Gisa Flake, Mirka Wagner, Johannes Dunz, Philipp Meierhöfer, Nico Holonics, Thorsten Merten, Eleonore Turri (Tänzer:innen), Jeannette Nickel (Tänzer:innen), Tamara Viola Kurti (Tänzer:innen), Helena Wolter (Tänzer:innen), Shane Dickson (Tänzer:innen), Andrii Zubchevskyi (Tänzer:innen), Michael Fernandez (Tänzer:innen), Patrick Santos (Tänzer:innen), Lynsey Reid (Tänzer:innen), Ivan Lytvynenko (Tänzer:innen), Chorsolisten der Komischen Oper Berlin (Chor), Komparserie (Komparserie), Orchester der Komischen Oper Berlin (Orchester)

Next date:

• Date Sunday, 14/June/2026 19:00 (15 more dates)
• Venue Komische Oper Berlin: Schillertheater - Großer Saal
• Address Bismarckstraße 110, 10625 Berlin-Charlottenburg