Monologfestival

In just three months, the first edition of the MONOLOGFESTIVAL was conceived and realized at TD Berlin back in 2007. We were curious about what happens when different solo pieces are staged back-to-back. And because everybody loved it so much, we’ve hosted the festival every year since - building new and unexpected bridges from the I to the We!

Two curators initiate up to ten new solo theater productions for every edition. These productions are all conceptualized specifically for the biannual festival, connected by a common political theme. The focus lies on societal change and the influence of individuals within groups. Extraordinary premieres emerge, by renowned theater makers and collectives, as well as some newcomers. The co-production festival explores the potential of monological positioning in a polyphony of artistic disciplines and styles.

Festival Direction

Janette Mickan and Michael Müller are curating Monologfestival together for the fourth time in a row. They have a long history of collaboration in theater projects, beginning with their research for the piece “Verschwörer – wie wirklich ist die Wirklichkeit” in 2013. After this initial project, they realized many pieces of the theater group LUNATIKS in places like Berlin, Kiel, Hamburg, Seoul and Brandenburg an der Havel. The first edition of the festival under their lead in 2016 AUS LIEBE ZUR WELT: Die Umordnung der Dinge questioned the flexibility and meaning of existing rules and the possibility of their reinterpretation from a subjective point of view. It addressed the wish to change the status quo structurally. The potential for societal change lies in the positioning of individuals.

The idea of the Monologue Festival was developed in 2007 by Heike Pelchen and Michael Müller, who together realized the first three editions.

From "I" towards "We"

We want to challenge the antiquated reputation of the genre of monologues. Particularly since one could say that monological speaking is gradually replacing the dialogue in our contemporary media world.

In light of the Red Alert ALARMSTUFE ROT discussed at the festival in 2019 it seems even more pressing to ask the question of how speaking and positioning of an individual can be a starting point for communal campaigns to change the status quo. Instead of sermons, we are interested in the political dimension of the monologue, its power to shake principles and to, on behalf of the community, throw into the world what has been unspoken or unthought. In this sense also in 2021, in the midst of ongoing catastrophic global crises and economic and social injustice, with FANTASTIC TIMES: A Becoming.A Could.A Different, we fired up the engine for speculations that could be the precursors of future realities. Hereby also opening up new perspectives for us on the here and now. Numerous works were created that dealt with emotions, parts of which were performed again in 2022 as a showcase under the title FEELS LIKE:. The 2023 edition, titled COMMON SENSES, asks about new agreements, shared knowledge and what can connect us as a society.

Credits

Artistic direction Janette Mickan / Michael Müller Stage Silke Bauer Production management Luca Sonnen / krass & krasser Graphics Christiane Patić / Christin Striegler Technology Stephan Mäusel / David Ojala / Florian Brossmann a.o. Press / Public Relations Kerstin Böttcher Social Media / Editing Katarina Šakić Translation Marie Praun Documentation Christopher Hewitt Website Kulturinventur Thanks to Team of TD Berlin Coproduction TD Berlin Funded by Senate Department for Culture and Social Cooperation in the four-year festival funding Media Partners taz. die Tageszeitung / tipBerlin / Theater der Zeit / rausgegangen