Berlin Berlin returns to the Théâtre des Nouveautés: our review

Berlin Berlin is back at the Théâtre des Nouveautés from September 17, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The comedy by Patrick Haudecœur and Gérald Sibleyras, directed by José Paul, won two Molières in 2022: best comedy and best actor.

In East Berlin, Emma and Ludwig yearn to reach the West. Emma lands a job with Werner Hofmann, ostensibly to care for his mother. The apartment hides a secret passage, but their employer is a Stasi agent who falls for Emma. Their plan to flee takes an unexpected turn.

The cast of this revival includes Anne Charrier, Guillaume Bouchède, Patrick Haudecœur, Marie Lanchas, Michel Lerousseau, Guilhem Pellegrin, Claude Guyonnet and Gino Lazzerini. The show runs for one hour and thirty minutes. Performances are scheduled Tuesday to Saturday at 9:00 pm, with an additional show on Saturdays at 4:30 pm and Sundays at 4:00 pm.

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The comedy had already been previewed by the editorial team in April 2024, with the cast from the previous season. Here is the review that was published at that time.

Our review of the performance seen in April 2024:

Before the performance even begins, we are plunged into the atmosphere of East Berlin during the Cold War, separated from West Berlin by the Berlin Wall. At the curtain rise, the staging reads as fairly classic but effective. What follows is a first act that sets the context, introduces the characters, and makes us laugh more and more. The pace quickens and we’re whisked into a quirky Stasi office, a pure moment of laughter from start to finish. The play tells the rocambolesque story of a flight from East Berlin to West Berlin, in real dynamics. We are carried along this sequence of farce and misunderstandings, propelled by scene changes and the arrival of new characters as the piece unfolds. The direction, by José Paul, offers a staging that is genuinely engaging, drawing us into the streets of Berlin with a 3D-like effect.

The actors make us laugh one by one and master their roles to perfection. Awarded the Molière de la meilleure comédie in 2022, the venue is still packed to the gunnels in April 2024. Berlin Berlin is a genuine moment of relaxation and laughter, a show you should see to escape from our current world. The text, written by the duo of authors Patrick Haudeoceur/Gérald Sibleyras, is effective and is heightened by its comical staging and a very strong cast.

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