Einar & Bert Theaterbuchhandlung

Einar & Bert Theaterbuchhandlung on Winsstraße is Germany's only theater bookstore and belongs to Theater der Zeit publishing house. Over 12,000 titles on theater, dance, and performance are displayed among stage set pieces from a Castorf production at the Volksbühne. Among bookstores in Berlin, this is the go-to address for theater professionals.

The Einar & Bert Theater Bookstore in Winsviertel

The Einar & Bert Theater Bookstore is located on Winsstraße, where the Gründerzeit buildings of the Winsviertel meet Leisepark. The district between Prenzlauer Allee and Greifswalder Straße is a quiet residential area, and the park is a former cemetery with old trees. The store includes a café, whose tables overlook this green space, and the counter reportedly has a touch of a theater canteen atmosphere.

The establishment opened in November 2014, operated by Theater der Zeit publishing house, which also moved to Winsstraße at the same time. The name is a tribute to two German theater figures, Einar Schleef and Bertolt Brecht. On approximately 80 square meters, the shelves stand among original stage set pieces from Frank Castorf’s production of Molière’s The Miser at the Volksbühne. The easiest way to get there is by tram; the Metzer Straße and Am Friedrichshain stops are each about 250 meters away.

Over 12,000 Titles on Theater, Dance, and Performance

It is Germany’s only theater bookstore, and its assortment makes this claim evident. Over 12,000 selected titles cover theater, dance, performance, puppetry, as well as children’s and youth theater, in German, English, Spanish, and French. Additionally, there is fiction, children’s literature, graphic novels, specialized magazines from many countries, as well as DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records. If a title is not found, it can be ordered, and in most cases, delivery within Germany is free of charge within 24 hours.

The Einar & Bert Theater Bookstore also operates far beyond Winsstraße. The team runs bookstalls at the Berliner Ensemble, the Deutsches Theater, the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, and the Thalia Theater in Hamburg. The store itself hosts evening events with staged and classical readings, book launches, concerts, and puppetry, having welcomed guests such as Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Thomas Ostermeier, and Sophie Rois. The German Bookstore Prize was awarded to this establishment in 2017, 2020, and 2022.