Theatre-Award-Berlin by Stiftung Preußische Seehandlung

The StiftungPreußische Seehandlung has awarded the Theatre-Award-Berlin since 1988. The Theatre-Award-Berlin is accompanied by the award of 20,000 Euro and is intended to recognise persons who have made a significant contribution to the German-speaking theatre through their life’s work or outstanding individual achievements. An excerpt from the jury statement reads:

“Christopher Rüping’s theatre is one thing above all: open. Open towards the audience whom the ensemble strives to meet on equal terms. Open in his attitude towards the darkest emotions which the actors, their characters and the audience take a close look at together, in the public intimacy of the stage. Open in his choice of material, which ranges from ancient drama via the canon of the modern era to contemporary novels, engaging with just about anything that describes a present-day sense of life, or the universal topics of belonging, loss and utopia.”

Members of the prize jury are: Eva Behrendt, member of the 2024 Theatertreffen-jury, Matthias Pees, director of Berliner Festspiele, Prof Dr Matthias Warstat, theatre scholar at Freie Universität Berlin, and, in an advisory capacity, Nora Hertlein-Hull, director of Theatertreffen.

The theatre prize is awarded by the Governing Mayor of Berlin and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Stiftung Preußische Seehandlung Kai Wegner, this year represented by Joe Chialo, Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion and member of the board of the Stiftung Preußische Seehandlung.

All award winners since 1988