The Theatre
VARIETÉ & DINNER UNDER THE STARS
Upon entering the Wintergarten Berlin, you will be drawn into another world by the magnificent backdrop of the variety theatre. Dark velvet, fine wood and the unique starry sky recreate the famous atmosphere of the glamorous 1920s. Leave your everyday life outside the door and enjoy an evening of chic and that certain something.
Show, music, varieté – entertaining, charming and varied. Whether Meret Becker or the Tiger Lillies, whether Max Raabe or Eckart von Hirschhausen, whether newcomers or international stars of the vaudeville scene: here the world comes together in the unique atmosphere of mirrors, fine wood, dark red velvet and the legendary starry sky.
The “most beautiful vaudeville theatre in Europe”, a jewel of vaudeville, “Berlin’s most beautiful theatre space” – in these superlatives the press speaks of the beauty of the house.
VARIETÉ & DINNER: ENJOY WITH ALL SENSES
In addition to a sophisticated, exciting and fascinating programme of top-class show, music, dance and acrobatics, the culinary aspect is likewise an essential aspect of a perfect evening. Enjoy the show with a good bottle of wine, a sparkling glass of champagne or a sophisticated cocktail. Let our chefs spoil you with everything from a fancy snack to an exquisite 3-course menu. For every taste and every occasion we offer an excellent selection of high quality dishes.
Don’t hesitate, join us and enjoy the luxury of the golden twenties with us.
Take a look around
The Wintergarten's New Highlight
Above the stalls, with the best view of the stage, you can now enjoy our completely newly designed balcony with 15 premium boxes for 4 persons.
Your own premium box for a very special evening.
Whether alone, as a couple or with up to four people: Book one of our new, exclusive premium boxes for that special event at one single price. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, candlelight dinner, ladies’ night out – we have just the right offer for you for every occasion.
In addition to the new boxes, we have made sure that you can spend a very romantic evening for two, for example, with a glass of champagne and selected snacks: namely on one of our 18 new premium sofas for 2 people!
THE WINTERGARTEN TEAM
THEATRE TEAM
Georg Strecker
MANAGING DIRECTOR
030 588 43-40
g.strecker@wintergarten-berlin.de
Benjamin Düntsch
MARKETING DIRECTOR
030 588 43-444
b.duentsch@wintergarten-berlin.de
Tilla Giese
ASSISTANT TO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
030 588 43-430
t.giese@wintergarten-berlin.de
Franziska Pochhammer
EVENTMANAGER
030 588 43-451
f.pochhammer@wintergarten-berlin.de
Melanie Mühlen
SALES
+49 (0)30 588 43-415
m.muehlen@wintergarten-berlin.de
Christoph Hein
SALES
030 588 43-432
c.hein@wintergarten-berlin.de
Yurie Yamamoto
SERVICE CENTER
030 588 433
sc@wintergarten-berlin.de
Nuria Al-Zein
SERVICE CENTER
030 588 433
sc@wintergarten-berlin.de
Bettina Heuß
FRONT DESK MANAGER
030 588 43-40
b.heuss@wintergarten-berlin.de
Susanne Burkhardt
COSTUME / PROPS
030 588 43-456
s.burkhardt@wintergarten-berlin.de
Maximilian Hinze
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
030 588 43-423
m.hinze@wintergarten-berlin.de
Oliver Heucke
STAGE MANAGER
030 588 43-420
o.Heucke@wintergarten-berlin.de
Przemyslaw Majcherek
STAGE MANAGER
030 588 43-420
p.majcherek@wintergarten-berlin.de
Stefan Linde
LIGHTS
030 588 43-423
s.linde@wintergarten-berlin.de
Nina Lehrmann
APPRENTICE
030 588 43-40
n.lehrmann@wintergarten-berlin.de
Norbert Särchen
SOUND
030 588 43-422
n.saerchen@wintergarten-berlin.de
Ulrich Böhme
SOUND
030 588 43-422
u.boehme@wintergarten-berlin.de
Gleb Suvorov
SOUND
030 588 43-422
info@wintergarten-berlin.de
Mario Ilk
STAGE
030 588 43-40
info@wintergarten-berlin.de
Patricia Raabe
STAGE HAND
030 588 43-40
info@wintergarten-berlin.de
René Wolter
DOORMAN
030 588 43-40
info@wintergarten-berlin.de
Cansu Güler
DEPUTY FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER
030 588 43-462
c.gueler@wintergarten-berlin.de
GASTRONOMY TEAM
Jörg Wiesner
MANAGING DIRECTOR
030 588 43-489
j.wiesner@wintergarten-berlin.de
Franziska Adlwarth
ASSISTANT TO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
030 588 43-492
f.adlwarth@wintergarten-berlin.de
Uta Schoenfelder
HEAD OF SALES
030 588 43-483
u.schoenfelder@wintergarten-berlin.de
Anna-Cristin Fischer
HEAD OF SALES
030 588 43-478 / -488
a.fischer@wintergarten-berlin.de
Thomas Figovc
HEAD CHEF
030 588 43-487
t.figovc@wintergarten-berlin.de
Ramon Zoellner
1st SERVICE MANAGER
030 588 43-484
r.zoellner@wintergarten-berlin.de
André Elstermann
SERVICE MANAGER CAFÉ WINTERGARTEN
030 588 43-484
a.elstermann@wintergarten-berlin.de
Derya Tuna
HEAD BARTENDER
030 588 43-40
gastronomie@wintergarten-berlin.de
Michael Enders
GUEST CARE
030 588 43-495
gastronomie@wintergarten-berlin.de
Roberto Springstrow
SERVICE MANAGER
030 588 43-482
r.springstrow@wintergarten-berlin.de
Jobs at the Wintergarten Berlin
Interested in working with us at the Wintergarten Varieté Berlin? Take a look how you can fit in:
- Foyer / Front House Manager (m/f/d/x)
- Box Office Staff (m/f/d/x)
- Foyer Staff (m/f/d/x)
- Facility Manager (m/f/d/x)
Please send us your application via email to:
You can reach us by phone at: 030 588 434 0
See you soon at the Wintergarten Varieté Berlin!
TIMELINE
-
1880
In 1880 the Central-Hotel on Friedrichstraße opens with a “Jardin de Plaisanterie” or conservatory for its hotel guests. The magnificent, glass palace-like garden hall is about 2000 square metres in size. Decorated with palm trees, evergreen shrubs and climbing plants, fountains and grottos, it invites the guests of this fine hotel as well as other Berliners to stroll around and is an excellent setting for sumptuous dinners and festive events. This year the first concert events already take place.
-
1884
In 1884 the winter garden becomes a programme and consumption theatre.
-
1888
The success story of the Wintergarten as a variety theatre begins when the first small variety performances with acrobats and magicians are given in 1888. In the following years the house becomes more and more renowned in the wake of guest performances of famous stars such as Saharet, Mistinguett and Yvette Guilbert.
-
1895
In 1895 the Skladanowsky brothers bring an extravagant programme to the stage: the world premiere of the cinematograph – nothing less than the birth of cinema, at least in Germany.
-
1900
Among the 80 or so vaudeville theatres in Berlin around 1900, the Wintergarten reigns supreme. No novelty, no sensational number and none of the great entertainers can pass by the Wintergarten. Soon to become a kind of “Gotha” of the vaudeville, many stars of the opera as well as the circus appear as guests here: the most famous girl troupes and virtuoso artists, such as the wonder juggler Rastelli, the escape artist Houdini, as well as the clowns Charlie Rivel and Grock.
-
1920
In the twenties, in addition to the typical eccentric fashions and original talents, it is above all Claire Waldoff, Otto Reutter and Josephine Baker who shape the face of the Wintergarten until the following decade.
-
21. June 1944
After 56 years of playing and a last performance on 21 June 1944, the Wintergarten is destroyed by a bombing raid. This left the most spectacular stage of artistry that Germany had known until then in ruins. What remains is the legend of a great name: Wintergarten
-
25. September 1992
On September 25, 1992, the Wintergarten on Potsdamer Strasse is reopened with a glittering premiere as a tribute to the old Wintergarten. Under the artistic direction of Roncalli founders Bernhard Paul and André Heller, the Wintergarten immediately delights Berliners and their guests. The press cheers: Berlin has its Wintergarten back!
Today, the Wintergarten with its elaborately produced shows is no longer only popular among Berliners. Through word of mouth and the media the Wintergarten also reaches a broad international audience. Recommended by Time Magazine as a cultural tip for Europe, the Wintergarten, which gets by without words in its programme and therefore knows hardly any language barriers, quickly develops into a widely famous crowd puller.
-
1997
In 1997, the Wintergarten launched a new tradition that still exists today: Together with the children’s circus CABUWAZI-Springling and the Berliner Märchentage, the Wintergarten produces an annual children’s variety show for young and old in the series ZIMT & ZAUBER during the Christmas and winter season.
-
2009
After years of continued success, a new operator takes over the theatre in 2009. The Wintergarten continues to host its own shows almost all year round and is also the venue for breathtaking guest appearances in the SPOTLIGHTS series on selected evenings.
-
2010
After a short break for rebuilding, “Die fabelhafte Varieté-Show” with the wonderful Meret Becker gives the starting signal for the new decade in January 2010.
The second show “Made in Berlin”, directed by Markus Pabst (BASE Berlin), continues the success of the first one – a fresh, cheeky show that celebrates the sound of the capital and Berlin’s attitude to life: “More Berlin is impossible!” (Berliner Morgenpost).
The guest performance “The Tiger Lillies FREAKSHOW” brings a cheerful-morbid charm to the theatre in autumn.
“Mark Scheibes Wilde Bühne” gives insights into the creation of songs and the love life of French women. Orchestra, Mark Scheibe at the piano and artists on and above the stage give a wild performance in the theatre hall.
-
2011
The 50s show “Peppermint Club” puts the city in a spring mood for several months in 2011 – with hula hoops, petticoats, a furious rockabilly band and groovy acrobatics.
“Forever Young” is the name of the fulminant rock variety show, which moves into the Winter Garden after the summer break and takes more than 50,000 spectators on a spectacular acrobatic-musical live trip through rock history.
-
2012
After the great success in autumn 2010, “The Tiger Lillies FREAKSHOW” returns to the Wintergarten for one month in 2012.
In spring Katharine Mehrling enchants her audience with charm, sex appeal and soul. Disarmingly honest and ravishingly funny, she dazzles in the show “Am Rande der Nacht” – live accompanied by her “Frivolous Nightclub Band”, jazz legend Rolf Kühn and charismatic variety eccentrics.
In summer, the three top entertainers Andreas Wessels, Daniel Reinsberg and Jojo Weiß meet and take each other for a ride. Whether Paris Moulin Rouge, Berlin Quatsch Comedy Club or New York Broadway – they have already been on the most diverse stages. In their first Wintergarten guest appearance in “FUNKY TOWN” they now draw from this pool and take an artistic look at the groove of the metropolises of the world.
Berlin is weird, fascinating, multifaceted. An exciting mixture, which can not only be experienced on the streets of the city, but also again on stage in the Berlin Wintergarten in “MADE IN BERLIN”. A dazzling programme – as lively, extraordinary and versatile as the city itself.
Who doesn’t love illusion? When the unimaginable happens and the impossible seems possible, the world of magic takes over. At last a new magic show in Berlin – “THE MAGICAL MYSTERY SHOW”.
-
2013
“FOREVER YOUNG” – in 2013 the rock variety show returns! Hitchhiking through the history of rock, audiences met rock classics from the Beatles, Stones, Police, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd to David Bowie, Nirvana and Metallica – played live by the outstanding rock musicians of the Weitersagen-Band and staged by international variety artists in fascinating pictures.
“DIE CultiMulti SHOW” – an acrobatic excursion into the dazzling world of vaudeville in the multi-faceted cultural mix of a big city, presented by comedian and entertainer Murat Topal, staged by Markus Pabst.
“MADE IN BERLIN…der ganz normale Wahnsinn” continues the success of “MADE IN BERLIN” in 2013.
And last but not least the new show “ALL NIGHT LONG – Die Soul Varieté Show” electrifies 2013 from the very first second when the live band ignites this dance through the history of soul with “Celebration”. Rhythm & blues, jazz and funk give this show its unmistakable groove and light up the acrobats’ top performances.
-
2014
In 2014, the Wintergarten continue to be turbulent: With “BREAKIN’ MOZART – Klassik, Breakdance, Artistik”, directed and performed by Echo award winner Christoph Hagel, the Wintergarten showcases a fireworks display of breathtaking artistry by the young acrobats of BASE Berlin and first-class breakdancing by the DDC (Dancefloor Destruction Crew) – perfectly combined with the masterful music of the Viennese wunderkind Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
“DER HELLE WAHNSINN”: a berlinesque artistic, as it can only be created in Berlin. With an unprecedentedly quirky mixture of acrobatics, theatre, dance and live music, Markus Pabst shows in his latest production in the Wintergarten that imagination and joie de vivre, paired with optimism and humour, have a home anywhere and at any time.
In mid-September, Wintergarten presents its successful show “FOREVER YOUNG” as a brilliant open air at the Kindl Bühne Wuhlheide.
With new magicians – grand masters of magic, award-winning and of international renown – and impressive new illusions, the Wintergarten becomes mysterious and mystical again in 2014 with “THE MAGICAL MYSTERY SHOW” in Germany’s most beautiful variety theatre.
-
2015
In 2015, “BREAKIN’ MOZART – Classical, Breakdance, Artistry” returns to the Wintergarten stage with new scenes and artists and once again inspires the audience.
SOAP become the “SEIFEN OPER” in 2015 – fresh, sexy, provocative, lively…based on motifs from the globally celebrated success show, staged by Markus Pabst and Maximilian Rambaek with live music by Jack Woodhead.
“ATEMLOS – Das Hit Varieté Festival” also enchants in 2015 with a hit programme from Seeed to Andrea Berg, international top artists, live band and singers such as Ella Endlich, Jay Khan, Katja Friedenberg, Tim Wilhelm of the Münchener Freiheit.
-
2016
It’s “DER HELLE WAHNSINN!”. Berlin’s craziest show completely turned the world of vaudeville upside down with its world premiere at Wintergarten in 2014. Many enthusiastic visitors could not get enough and in 2016 the time had finally come again!
“ALL NIGHT LONG” celebrated its overwhelming premiere in 2013 in the Wintergarten – and was missed on stage. In 2016, after several guest performances in Denmark and a highly acclaimed open air at the Kindl Bühne Wuhlheide, the show returns to Potsdamer Straße for a short time.
The 80s were a dazzling time. In “RELAX! 80’s Hits & Acrobatics” breathtaking acrobatics meets the sound of the 80s, accompanied by a furious live band and great singers.
-
2017
Berlin is as open as it is stubborn, as nostalgic as it is visionary, as enthusiastic as it is grouchy. Berlin is capital and world city of creativity. No other city embodies the idea of free self-determination and development in a complex world more than Berlin. “LIKE BERLIN” is the best way to feel Berlin, a unique infusion with Berlin lifestyle! The directors Markus Pabst and Pierre Caesar busy themselves with the BERLIN CODE of the city values campaign DAS B – LIKE BERLIN and use it to further develop their successful Wintergarten show “MADE IN BERLIN”. Marvel becomes love. Love for Berlin.
For its 25th birthday, the Wintergarten presents the most elaborate show in its history – and one of the most unusual at the same time: “SAYONARA TOKYO – Geishas! Tamagotchis! Edelweiss!” An exciting kaleidoscope of Japanese everyday scenes and specialties between dance and artistry, live music and theatre, between kimono and cherry blossom, manga and anime. SAYONARA TOKYO turns the Winter Garden into a theatre of smiles and the rising sun until February 2018. The creative heads of SAYONARA TOKYO are Stephan Prattes as director and set designer, Johannes Roloff as musical director and Hakan T. Aslan as developer of the choreography. Especially memorable is the extravagant stage design and an industrial robot, which contributes truly amazing things to this fascinating show.
And yet another work of art is completed just in time for the silver anniversary: Stylish, ultra-modern and seductive: artist Fiona Bennett and designer Hans-Joachim Böhme transform an urgent need into a fairytale experience for the Wintergarten. Underground, they create completely new (sanitary) spaces. The glamorous opening under the motto “THE FIRST FLUSH” takes place on 11 September 2017. -
2018
In a time in which the world seems to turn faster and faster, the desire for deceleration, purism and truthfulness grows. In the show “TAKE IT EASY!” from February 2018 on, free spirits of handmade music meet unique body art and extraordinary performance. Following the footsteps of country and folk, rock and pop, new images were created in the minds of the audience. Acrobats from all over the world celebrate a place of longing far away from everyday life and take the audience on an acrobatic journey to music from Johnny Cash to Bruce Springsteen, from Bob Dylan to Fleetwood Mac, from Dolly Parton to Ed Sheeran.
In the second half of the year, the dedication of the Wintergarten is honoured with the amazing, breathtaking, yet also bizarre and comical show “STAUNEN – Circus of Stars”. The highest rank of international variety stars inspire audiences and provide exquisite entertainment with a variety of artistic, magical and clownish performances.
At the end of the year, visitors to the Wintergarten also enjoy the popular children’s show at Christmas time, “ZIMT & ZAUBER”, which this year featured the Christmas fairy tale “Aufstand der Uhren” by Sammy Tavalis in cooperation with the children’s circus CABUWAZI.
-
2019
With the beginning of the year, the Wintergarten started a new show – at “Kurtz on the Couch”, every 1st Monday of the month, the audience experienced an extremely amusing and entertaining talk evening with the journalist Andreas Kurtz, known for his wonderful columns. Since January, the Wintergarten has welcomed a different celebrity guest every month in this popular talk show.
Since 06 March the show “LET’S TWIST AGAIN – Rockabilly Hits & Acrobatics” was on. Rockabilly and Rhythm & Blues – what started as an exciting mix between black and white music became the unique sound of a rebellious youth worldwide, who rebelled against racial segregation, discrimination of dissenters and narrow moral concepts of their parents. The Wintergarten combined the hits of an era with international acrobats to artistic choreographies. Excellent singers interpreted the legends of rock’n’roll in a variety show beyond musical categories and style drawers.
As a fitting follow-up, the upcoming show “WOODSTOCK VARIETY SHOW – Festival Hits & Acrobatics” focuses on the unbroken myth of the legendary Woodstock Festival of 1969. For the 50th anniversary, the Wintergarten presented a show in the sound of Love, Peace and Happiness. The world’s best artists created their own choreographies to songs by Santana, Janis Joplin or Joe Cocker. Festival hits by Melanie, Jimi Hendrix or The Who become acrobatic images.
-
2020
After the truly magical show ZAUBER ZAUBER (November 07, 2019 to January 26, 2020, directed by Rodrigue Funke), the theatre is starting into the “new” 20s in good spirits – the year 2019 was extremely successful and boasted record attendance figures.
20 20 | The 20s Variety Revue
Staged by Markus Pabst and Pierre Cesar with an all-star cast and first-class live band, the motto from 11 February 2020 was “Hereinspaziert in die wilden Zwanziger!”. This opulent show production took us back to what was probably the most sinful decade of all time, celebrated especially in Berlin, the golden twenties – and at the same time full steam ahead into the new 2020s.
Not only the stage, but the entire ambience of the house was perfectly transformed into a perfect establishment of the sinful decade for 2020. The audience and the press were thrilled.But then Corona struck. For an endless period – from March 15, to September 22, 2020 – the theatre had to close. The same fate befell the house and the entire culture again from November 02, 2020 to July 14, 2021.
GOLDEN YEARS | The 1920s Variety Revue № 2
Even during the closing time, of course, hard work was carried out in compliance with all hygiene conditions. How symbolic and fitting: GOLDEN YEARS, the house’s hundredth production, staged by Rodrigue Funke, played from September 23 , 2020. An evening that presented elegant Varieté Noir. A performance as it could have taken place 100 years ago in the old Wintergarten on Friedrichstraße – and as it did so in the new 1920s at this very venue: the Wintergarten Varieté Berlin. Unfortunately, this Varieté dream was also over after only five weeks. Only to be resurrected all the more glamorously in 2022. -
2021
The world is still reeling from the plague, but there is hope. Adhering to all the guidelines and always dutifully wearing a mask, guests will once again enjoy 20 20 | Die 20er Jahre Varieté Revue from July 15, 2021 to February 13, 2022.
And the annual Christmas spectacle for the whole family ZIMT & ZAUBER in addition to the main show also plays the production STERNTALER and celebrates its 25th anniversary, from November 21, 2021 to January 30, 2022.
-
2022
FLYING DREAMS
From February onwards, an exciting co-production thrilled the guests: the Wintergarten Varieté and the legendary Flying Steps presented FLYING DREAMS from February 25, to June 19, (directed by Rodrigue Funke & Vartan Bassil). Here, two worlds entered into a fascinating liaison with each other that, at first glance, could not be more different. The worldwide celebrated breakdance stars of the Flying Steps met top-class stars of the vaudeville world in a congenial collaboration.GOLDEN YEARS | The 1920s Variety Revue № 2
Longed for by audiences and finally back. From July 20, 2022 to February 17, 2023, GOLDEN YEARS enraptures and once again offers a dazzling evening in yesterday and today – staged even peppier and with a few new faces.
Our partners
For years the Winter Garden has been working together with its valued partners to create unforgettable experiences for our guests.