Scheinbar Varieté Berlin

The small Scheinbar in Schöneberg has also been around for many years. It is far more than just Germany’s smallest variety theater. Since 1984, it has offered Open Stage Varieté, Poetry Slam, Comedy, Magic, Music, Cabaret, and other performances that are not easily categorized. The Scheinbar was originally founded with a kind of DIY spirit by members of the Berliner Artistenschule Etage. The classic at the Scheinbar to this day is the Open Stage Varieté, with a very broad concept of variety. Here, artists of all genres can try out new acts or refine existing numbers and programs. There is a program at least four times a week. Artists of the most diverse styles, from jugglers to cabaret artists, have a stage here for 7 minutes each, very close to the audience. The Open Stage Varieté is hosted by changing moderators who are part of the program.

The small venue can accommodate perhaps 60 spectators, and the stage, at only 4 x 3 meters, is quite intimate, putting artists in close contact with the audience. The stage therefore has the reputation of being where tomorrow’s stars try out their acts. Indeed, well-known personalities like Kurt Krömer, Eckhart von Hirschhausen, Mario Barth, or Meret Becker have worked on their programs here in front of an audience. Oliver Polak is said to have performed over 200 times at the Scheinbar. Intermittently, there are solo programs. Admission prices, ranging from 5 to 15 Euros, are often even lower than cinema ticket prices. The Scheinbar is a legendary small theater that deliberately involves its audience. The amazing thing about the Scheinbar: you never quite know what to expect, and that’s precisely what makes the small stage so appealing.