Scheinbar Varieté Berlin

Since 1984, Scheinbar Varieté in Schöneberg has stood for cabaret and small-scale performing arts in the smallest space: 60 seats, a four by three meter stage, and a program that doesn't fit into any box. Here, Kurt Krömer and Eckart von Hirschhausen found their first fans before they became TV stars.

Scheinbar Varieté: Where Berlin Cabaret Finds its New Talent

Four times a week, professionals and amateurs storm the stage for seven minutes each. The principle is as simple as it is effective: no two evenings are alike, because the program sequence is only determined by the weekly changing host shortly before the show begins. What exactly happens on stage is often decided only at the moment of the performance. Comedy, magic, music, juggling, acrobatics, cabaret, and performances for which a genre still has to be invented are all possible here.

The small stage holds only 60 guests, creating an intimate atmosphere for comedy, cabaret, music, juggling, and acrobatics. This means Scheinbar Varieté goes far beyond what one expects from a classic cabaret in Berlin. The open stage is also a popular opportunity to try things out: sometimes the doorbell rings at the back door during the show, and eager, spontaneously decided artists demand entry.

Cult Status with History

Well-known artists and stars like Mario Barth, Kurt Krömer, Eckart von Hirschhausen, and Bodo Wartke found their first fans at Scheinbar many years ago. Thus, Scheinbar Varieté is not just a place for cabaret, but a true talent forge of the Berlin scene. In addition to an inimitable atmosphere of intimacy, avant-garde, and nostalgia, it offers the friendliest bar and box office staff in Berlin’s variety show scene, solo shows, and monthly specials that have the potential to become long-running hits. Away from the polished grand stages, Scheinbar offers cabaret with a raw, authentic character.