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Lilienthal's Volksbühne: A Queer-Feminist Turn

institutional · 2026-07-11

The Volksbühne in Berlin is undergoing a transformation under new director Lilienthal, who is shifting the institution away from its Castorf-era legacy toward a more diverse, performative, and international program centered on queer feminism. The article discusses this as a tectonic shift in the theater's identity, embracing a new naturalism that focuses on reality.

Key facts

  • Lilienthal is the new director of the Volksbühne.
  • The program emphasizes queer feminism over the Castorf tradition.
  • The shift is described as tectonic.
  • The new direction is more diverse, performative, and international.
  • The article is titled 'Comeback | Der neue Naturalismus im Theater: Nichts als die Wirklichkeit'.
  • The article was published in der Freitag.
  • The author is Björn Hayer.
  • The Volksbühne is in Berlin.

Entities

Artists

  • Lilienthal

Institutions

  • Volksbühne
  • der Freitag

Locations

  • Berlin
  • Germany

Sources