Cabaret musical marks 60 years in Berlin, still resonant as far-right rises in Germany

This autumn marks the 60th anniversary of the musical Cabaret, inspired by Christopher Isherwood's novel. Since 2006, it has been staged each summer at the Tipi am Kanzleramt in Berlin, the setting of the story during the early 1930s. Directed by Eric Schmidt-Mohan, the production delves into the hedonistic lifestyle of Weimar-era Berlin against the backdrop of the escalating Nazi regime. Schmidt-Mohan emphasizes that "Cabaret is more relevant than ever." The Tipi also hosts performances for schools, with the next one scheduled for September 7, following the Saxony-Anhalt regional election. The musical opens with "Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome," reflecting the cultural openness of 1920s Berlin, while the narrative revolves around Sally Bowles, Clifford Bradshaw, and Fräulein Schneider's concerns for her Jewish tenant, Herr Schultz.