[Spectacular acrobats jumping through hoops, fascinating body precision in handstand acrobatics, whirling around quickly on the aerial ring, spiraling up and down as if weightless on the straps (ropes hanging down), the whole thing accompanied by the touching sounds of live percussion and interactive video art: that's Parade, the latest show by the Chamaleon Theater in the Hackesche Hofe, which can be seen until February 2018.
Just watching the trailer, I'm blown away and want to accept the extravagant invitation to travel to Berlin for just one night to go to the theater, visit the TV tower, and pass the day until I fly back to Berlin.
On a sunny but already chilly Saturday in October, I arrive at the airport in Berlin-Schonefeld in the afternoon with two other Austrian blog colleagues named Vicky. The pick-up of our Berlin Welcome Card at the tourist information and the drive to the partner hotel NH Collection Friedrichstrabe take longer than our flight: ideally, the flight from Vienna to Berlin takes only 50 minutes!
Check into the room, get dressed up and off I go with one of the Vickys to get something to eat. The meeting point is at the Berlin television tower. Besides us from Austria, bloggers from Germany, Sweden and England came to visit the theater performance. To get to know each other we go together to the famous Berlin TV Tower (This is what a short visit to the Berlin TV Tower is like).
We take the streetcar two stops to the Hackescher Markt stop in the Spandauer Viertel, which in turn is part of the Berlin Mitte district. On foot we would have needed only a quarter of an hour from the Alexander Tower to the lively city district, I find out later.
THE HACKESCHEN COURTYARDS
The Hackesche Hofe are a residential, commercial and trading complex with eight courtyards, built at the beginning of the 19th century. The building was built at the end of the 19th century and has been a listed building since 1977. After reunification, the charming Wilhelminian style courtyard complex with Art Nouveau details, in need of renovation, was quickly discovered and occupied by artists. Four years later, a mixed-use concept was agreed upon that ensures the continued small-scale use to this day.
There it goes. Because the Chamaleon Theater is located in the first of the Hackesche Hofe.
CHAMELEON THEATER IN THE HACKESCHEN HoFE
One year after the occupation, in 1991, the Varietetheater Chamaleon was opened for the first time and partially renovated. Quickly establishing itself as a "star in the cabaret scene" [*]. After years of success, but a failed expansion, it came to insolvency. 2004 was therefore taken over again, renovated again and reopened with the concept of modern Varietetheater under the motto "New circus simply different". New circus is described as a conglomerate of acrobatics, theater, music, dance, new media and visual arts that transcends genres and art forms – contemporary circus, without animals.
Through the Art Nouveau decorated courtyard, we go up the stairs on the left in the courtyard to the second floor to the theater hall. We are among the early guests to arrive in the hall and are allowed to sit at the front tables.
Before the show begins, there will be a toast with Prosecco, gossip and delicious food. Meanwhile, a gong announces that the performance is about to begin in the now completely filled theater hall. It gets dark.
PARADE – #PARADETHESHOW BY BATTLEROYAL
Parade is the name of the show at the Chamaleon Theater, which was created in cooperation with battleROYAL. As shown in the trailer (be sure to watch!) it is a combination of acrobatics, various circus disciplines, theater, video art and live music. "Acrobatics at its best", I think to myself during the show. "In parts so prescient, light-footed and exact. This is only possible through years of hard and daily training during childhood."
And I'm right: one of the artists of the international team is a seven-time champion in sports acrobatics. But it's not just their incredible body control that impresses, but also the individual performances and incredible expressiveness of each team member. Each section had a clear high point for me.
What it was exactly? Hard to explain. I guess you'll have to see the show for yourself.
INFO ABOUT THE CHAMELEON THEATER IN BERLIN
The Chamaleon Theater is located in the Hackesche Hofe (Rosenthaler Strabe 40/41) in Berlin Mitte.
- Box office: Mon-Sun from 12:00 noon until about show time (18:00/18:30 or 21:30)
- Ticket hotline: +49 (0) 30 4000-590 or order online
- The theater is not completely barrier-free. Access is not possible through the main entrance, which is a listed building, but through a back entrance (more information at the ticket hotline). Also, there are currently no accessible sanitary facilities (supposedly they will be built next year).
- Final tip: If you want to subscribe to the newsletter at www.parade.battleroyal.berlin can listen to the soundtrack via Spotify!
SLEEP: NH COLLECTION BERLIN FRIEDRICHSTRASSE
I stayed at the NH Collection Berlin Friedrichstrabe, which is very centrally located, right at the Friedrichstrabe U-/S-Bahn station and within walking distance of the Brandenburg Gate. I have a spacious superior room with a large bathroom, which has a bathtub and a shower. The huge room is divided into a sleeping area and a working and living area.
Tip: Sundays there is a free late check-out until 5 p.m!
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR A VISIT TO BERLIN
- If you plan to visit more than two sights or museums in Berlin from the inside, plus regularly use the public transport, a Berlin Welcome Card will quickly pay for itself! Calculate!
- If you land at Berlin Schonefeld Airport and you are thinking about taking a Berlin Welcome Card, you have to choose one for zone ABC. Otherwise you need another ticket for 3,40€ to the city center (6,80€ against 2€ more).
- Bring warm clothes! It's colder than you think in Berlin.
- To see all the famous sights in Berlin, don't stay just one night, stay at least two, but better three!
MORE ABOUT BERLIN& READ SURROUNDINGS
Happy travels to Berlin!
My Berlin trip took place from 7. until 8. October 2017 at the invitation of the Chameleon Theatre and their cooperation partners (Berlin TV Tower, NH Collection Hotel, Berlin Welcome Card) takes place. Included in the stay was the arrival and departure, a Berlin Welcome Card AB for 48h, the visit of the Berlin TV Tower, the theater performance including food and drinks and the night at the NH Collection Hotel Friedrichstrabe. No fee was paid and no specifications were made. Everything: my opinion! Thank you for the exciting invitation!