MEGALOMANIA & THE CIRCUS: PEER GYNT & SPOOKY PARADISE AT VOLKSBÜHNE

Eight hours of theater? I do the math and wonder when I last did that. Now Peer Gynt is back at the Volksbühne, and Vegard Vinge, Ida Müller, and Trond Reinholdtsen are tearing Ibsen’s text apart while also taking it completely seriously. And they are taking their time. A few days earlier, Spooky Paradise opens, a work that proposes almost the opposite: Philippe Quesne stages the afterglow of the spectacle. A group of former circus performers tries to carry on what remains of their old enterprise, without grand acts or big tricks. The return of Peer Gynt, or rather, an eight-hour performance of masks, a rumbling soundtrack, video, and projections, fed by a diverse range of sources, from Norwegian landscapes to pop cultural references. At the center is Peer, a figure who invents himself, exaggerates himself, and loses himself in the process. He exists somewhere between youthful megalomania and total overwhelm. Everything here tips toward the extreme, and that’s exactly where the strange tension of the evening builds, in a production that makes no effort to make things easier for its audience.

A few days earlier, Spooky Paradise will premiere. The title alone lingers in neon letters on a scaffold somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Philippe Quesne is not building a grand spectacle here so much as a situation. People who once worked in the circus stand, without animals and without big tricks, trying to figure out what comes next. It could be an abandoned fairground, with a multilingual ensemble of actors and musicians, including Kathrin Angerer, Martin Wuttke and Marie Rosa Tietjen, drifting through it melancholically. Costume designer Tabea Braun gives this in-between world its own distinctive look, frozen somewhere in the past. The group feels its way forward, toward the possibility that hope still exists, and you with them, if you want to keep an evening free in May. (Or half a day.)

Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: Julian Röder, Philippe Quesne

Volksbühne, Linienstr.227, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map

Peer Gynt from 15.05.2026. Dates and tickets found here.
Spooky Paradise premieres 30.04.2026. Dates and tickets found here.

@volksbuehne_berlin

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Culture, Medienpartnerschaft

LINES THAT BUILD WORLDS: REDISCOVERED ARTIST MARLOW MOSS AT THE KOLBE MUSEUM

Geometric grid paintings in primary colors — red, yellow and blue — are inseparably linked to Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. But who would have thought that British artist Marlow Moss not only met Mondrian, but also influenced his abstract visual language? Seven decades after her death, Moss is being rediscovered and, for the first time in Germany, honored with a major exhibition at the Georg Kolbe Museum. Located in Berlin’s Westend, the exhibition not only tells Moss’s story but bridges it to the present day through artists such as Leonor Antunes, Tacita Dean, Florette Dijkstra and Ro Robertson. After all, Marjorie Jewel Moss (as was her full name) lived a life that would have fit right into 2026 Berlin. Born in London in 1889, she studied art, moved to Cornwall, and reinvented herself with cropped hair, tailored suits, and a new name: “Marlow”. And although the artist continued to use the pronoun “she” and never openly defined her sexuality, she felt most at ease living in a way that we would likely describe as queer today.

In the late 1920s, Marlow Moss moved to Paris, where she became part of the avant-garde scene and eventually met Piet Mondrian. The two exchanged ideas and influenced each other’s work. While Mondrian emigrated to New York, Jewish Moss initially retreated to the Dutch province of Zeeland at the outbreak of World War II, before fleeing to Cornwall. Until her death, she lived and worked in seclusion in the small fishing village of Lamorna. During these years of exile, her work remained a constant, even if it was not appreciated in Great Britain to the same extent as it had been in France and the Netherlands. In Berlin’s Westend, her sculptures — only a few of which have survived — are being shown for the first time. She paired smoothly polished golden spheres with granite from the rugged southwest coast of England. The way nature and abstraction defined her practice is particularly striking in one of her sculptures in the garden of the Georg Kolbe Museum. Curators Lucy Howarth and Elisa Tamaschke have succeeded in creating an exhibition that presents a multifaceted artist in all her dimensions and contradictions: a visionary who is finally receiving the recognition she deserved in her lifetime.

Text: Laura Storfner / Photos: Jens Ziehe

Georg Kolbe Museum, Sensburger Allee 25, 14055 Berlin–Westend; map

Creating Space: The Constructivist Marlow Moss – with Leonor Antunes, Tacita Dean, Florette Dijkstra and Ro Robertson until 26.07.2026

@georgkolbemuseum
@kathleen.reinhardt
@leonorleonorantunes
@tacita_dean
@ro_robertson_
@lucyhahowarth
@elisatamaschke

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Events

PHOTOS, POP-UPS & PLANT DYE — CC’S CALENDAR TIPS FOR A WEEKEND WORTH SEEING

Take a moment to squint into the sun! This weekend is all about the decisive gaze — one that fills in gaps and reveals the unfamiliar: coffee wreaths and silver jewelry, photography and natural wine, plant-based dyes and markets in the spring sun. The Achtung Berlin Film Festival brings Solo Show by Julius Weigel to Babylon today (16.04.). The film moves through the art world — more precisely, through its stagings and subtle illusions. A fine arts student drifts between exhibitions and side jobs. The camera stays close, never fully committing to one side. The question is whether authenticity and staging are really in opposition. Friday (17.04.) gets cheeky! At the Nhau Sessions at Cheeky, text meets sound, accompanied by something delicious on the side. The duo ôm ôm works its way through a jungle of poetry and design, while Jiun plays soulful, percussive tracks. On the menu: Nem Nuong skewers (grilled Vietnamese meatballs), vegan summer rolls, natural wine, and a few good non-alcoholic drinks. Coffee wreaths create connection — that’s a fact. At Ottilia Connects, silver jewelry comes into play as well. Until Saturday (15–18.04.), jewelry label Ottilia is inhabiting Backhaus in Neukölln. Two sisters from Cologne are behind the finely crafted pieces made from recycled silver and have brought a modular system so you can assemble your own piece of jewelry on site. There’s also coffee and plenty of good conversation. For more glimpses of perspective, head to Schöneberg. At Haus am Kleistpark, the masterclass of the Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie opens its exhibition Mind the Gap on Saturday (18.04.). It presents works from two years of study, exploring ruptures and transitions. Intimate gazes by Verdiana Albano, Antine Karla Yzer, and many others meet broader social questions. Many of the photographers will be present at the opening, and it’s bound to be a good one.

One of the city’s most daring chefs will take over the kitchen at Nomi Weinbar on Saturday (18.04.): her name is Lora Kraft. From the afternoon onwards, she will do what she does best at this collaborative pop-up. Think brioche with wild garlic, gazpacho with Granny Smith apples, dumplings with Parmesan and truffle. Alongside it, wines will be served from Nomi’s shelves. Speaking of shelves, let your gaze wander through the market and find something beautiful. Also on Saturday (18.04.), the Spring Market takes place at Another June. Labels like Rayas will bring their woven handbags, Inner and Inner will present jewelry made from glass beads, and Yont Studio will showcase its interior visions. Expect good weather and a glass of something sparkling. If you’re still searching for your spring color, you might just have to mix it yourself. And you can do exactly that on Sunday (19.04.) at Circularium during the plant dye workshop by Flora und Farbe. For an entire day, everything revolves around mordanting, dyeing, and a spirit of experimentation. For beginners and the curious, there will also be plenty of theory to help. And if, after all this, you feel like capturing light yourself and turning it into a book, dive deep into that process from Monday (20–24.04.) at AFF Galerie, The Photobook Process workshop accompanies your project from initial idea to finished product, guided by the trained eyes of Sina Niemeyer and Ann Griffin. It’s worth going, and worth looking closely.

Text: Emma Zylla / Photos: Luna Schaffron, Ottilia, Rainer Christian Kurzeder, Robyn Steffen, Sandra Buschow und Savannah van der Niet

Babylon, Rosa-Luxemburg-Str.30, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map
Solo Show Premiere 16.04.2026 22h. Tickets here. Upcoming dates here.

@babylonberlin
@_weigel

Cheeky, Anzengruber Str.19, 12043 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Nhau Sessions 17.04.2026 from 18h

@cheeky.berlin

Backhaus Projects, Weserstr.168, 12045 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Ottilia Connects 15.–18.04.2026 12–19h

@ottilia.studios
@backhaus_projects

Nomi Weinbar, Audre-Lorde-Str.49, 10997 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Lora Kraft x Nomi Pop-up 18.04.2026 from 14h

@nomi_winebar
@lorakraftdining

Another June, Anklamer Str.39/40, 10115 Berlin–Mitte; map
Spring Market 18.04.2026 11–16h

@anotherjune_vintage
@rayascollective
@inner_and_inner
@yontstudio

Haus am Kleistpark, Grunewaldstr.6-7, 10823 Berlin–Schöneberg; map
Mind The Gap 18.–21.04.2026. Opening 18.04. 11–18h

@hausamkleistpark
@ostkreuzschule_meisterklasse
@verdianaalbano
@antineky

Circularium, Pappelallee 82, 10437 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Färben mit Pflanzenfarben 19.04.2026. Book a spot here.

@floraundfarbe
@circularium_berlin

AFF Galerie, Kochhannstr.14, 10249 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
The Photobook Process 20.–24.04.2026. Sign up here.

@pib.photographyinberlin
@aff_galerie

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Cafes

KISSABO : IT’S ABOUT APPRECIATION — THROUGH TEA, CRAFTS, AND CULTURE

As a Japanese person living in Berlin, I have a soft spot for places that embody Japanese culture well. Exactly as Kissabodoes, and it was created by two Polish people. Culture travels well when it’s done so with care. Step inside and let the city fall away. Kissabo carries a nostalgic calm — unhurried, quiet, a little removed from everything outside. The name says it all: a blend of kissaten, the traditional Japanese neighbourhood café, and sabō, a space devoted to tea and stillness. This is not a place that performs; it simply is. Behind it are Gosia and Marcin, who discovered Japanese tea through years of travelling. What started as curiosity deepened into something closer to a philosophy — one rooted in craft, tradition, and the values that form around a bowl of tea. That philosophy takes shape at Kissabo. Matcha is made fresh, sourced directly from a trusted Japanese producer, and served in handcrafted vessels. Alongside it, Gyokuro, Genmaicha and Hojicha are brewed slowly, each with its own character.

For those who want to go deeper, a set matcha menu pairs three preparations with a selection of handmade sweets. The mochi is soft and delicately sweet — Daifuku filled with red bean paste and seasonal ingredients, Dango shaped from rice flour — made fresh and enjoyed with tea. A small menu of non-alcoholic, seasonal cocktails rounds things out for those in a different mood. The space itself is considered. Seats at the bar face the preparation, a larger communal table invites longer stays, and a tatami area offers a quiet space. On the shelves is a hand-picked selection of Japanese craft objects. Among them, tea caddies by Kaikado, the kind you want to pick up and hold. Things made to last, displayed without fuss. If you need a moment away from the city — and a quiet detour into another culture — this is where to go.

Text: Akiko Watanabe / Photos: Robyn Steffen

Kissabo, Kopenhagener Str.16, 10437 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map

@kissabo.berlin

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Activities

STRONGER TOGETHER: STRENGTH TRAINING AT QUEER POWER GYM

Gyms are usually ruled by bros. Anyone who has ever set foot in a gym probably knows the feeling — I certainly do. You walk in and immediately feel out of place. Around me, there are guys on weight machines or standing in front of the mirror, sighing and grunting, usually a little too loudly, all following an unspoken choreography I don’t understand. And honestly, I don’t want to understand it. That’s how traditional gyms feel for me, for many women, and especially for many queer people. Which is why someone in Berlin set out to create a safe space for strength training for queer people: Queer Power Gym. Founder Eve has been strength training for twenty years and quickly realized that, as a nonbinary person, it’s easy to feel out of place in conventional gym environments. So they began offering personal training, and from there, the idea of creating a space of their own formed. At Queer Power Gym, it’s not just about squats or bench presses. From the moment you arrive, it’s clear people are welcome, addressed by name, with the correct pronouns, and with their individual goals in mind. Many come wanting to build strength in the traditional sense, others want to reduce pain, and others are there for gender-affirming training.

For some, that means building muscle in specific areas of the body, such as the arms or back. For others, it means training in a space where their bodies are not questioned — offered in the form of small group personal training. This format grew out of the original one-on-one sessions. While progress there was significant, the price was out of reach for many people. In small groups, much of that same individual attention can be maintained while making the training more accessible. Structure plays a central role, especially in the beginning, when many people feel lost in the gym among all the machines, routines and exercises. At Queer Power Gym, it’s clear from the start what to do. A reliable framework, group training and familiar faces help people build a routine. Queer circles, too, often stay within their own bubbles. People usually meet at the bar, not at the gym. At Eve’s, the LGBTQIA+ community mixes, and that is what makes it so special. Some people stay after training for a nonalcoholic beer at the Späti, while others come because they feel comfortable in the group. The project is still young. After a long search, Eve found a training space at Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg. Now, there is a space for strength that doesn’t feel intimidating. So, queers, let’s get to training. Finally, a gym where we don’t have to explain ourselves or prove ourselves before picking up a dumbbell.

Text: Inga Krumme / Photos: Evelyn Bastian

Queer Power Gym, Oranienstr.163, 10969 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map

@queer.power.gym.berlin

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Language

MEGALOMANIA & THE CIRCUS: PEER GYNT & SPOOKY PARADISE AT VOLKSBÜHNE

LINES THAT BUILD WORLDS: REDISCOVERED ARTIST MARLOW MOSS AT THE KOLBE MUSEUM

PHOTOS, POP-UPS & PLANT DYE — CC’S CALENDAR TIPS FOR A WEEKEND WORTH SEEING

KISSABO : IT’S ABOUT APPRECIATION — THROUGH TEA, CRAFTS, AND CULTURE

STRONGER TOGETHER: STRENGTH TRAINING AT QUEER POWER GYM