"Man to Man" im Februar 2027 im Großen Haus
In February 2027, the Berliner Ensemble will stage "Man to Man" ("Jacke wie Hose") by Manfred Karge as a solo performance by Tilda Swinton, in co-production with London's Royal Court Theatre and Brian & Dayna Lee, for eight performances in Berlin at the Großes Haus. The premiere at the Royal Court Theatre is on 11 September 2026, whilst the Berlin premiere is on 9 February 2027. The Berlin dates are the only performances on the European mainland; in spring 2027, the production will then be staged in New York. The performances in Berlin will be in English with German surtitles.
Over the past few decades, Tilda Swinton has made a name for herself internationally primarily as a film actress ("We Need to Talk About Kevin", "Orlando") and is now returning to the theatre stage with this production. Thirty years ago, she starred in "Man to Man" in its acclaimed UK premiere at the Traverse Theatre and at the Royal Court Theatre; she is now set to reprise her role as Ella/Max in the production directed by the multi-award-winning Stephen Unwin – just as she did in 1988 – with Unwin once again collaborating with set designer Bunny Christie on this production. Stephen Unwin: "It is exciting for us to return to the Royal Court Theatre and stage this remarkable play there once again. And then to present it at Karges's home theatre, the Berliner Ensemble, where he began his career under the direction of Helene Weigel."
Return to the Theatre Stage
"It is a great honour for the Berliner Ensemble that, together with the Royal Court Theatre, we are able to facilitate Tilda Swinton's return to the theatre stage after more than 30 years. At her personal request, we are staging this new production of Manfred Karge's play here in Berlin. This is a striking testament to the international reputation the Berliner Ensemble has re-established in recent years, including through numerous guest performances around the world, from Adelaide to New York to Shanghai." Oliver Reese, Artistic Director
"Man to Man" by Manfred Karge tells the story of a woman who, following her husband's death, assumes his identity and takes his job in the 1930s to avoid starvation. It has been translated into numerous languages and was adapted for the screen in 1991 by John Maybury, also starring Tilda Swinton. The world premiere, directed by Karge himself, took place in 1982 at the Schauspielhaus Bochum; in 1984, Peter Konwitschny staged the GDR premiere at the Berliner Ensemble.
Ticket lottery in November 2026
Tickets for the eight Berlin performances of “Man to Man” will be allocated via a ticket lottery through the Berliner Ensemble App, giving as many people as possible an equal opportunity to see this production. To take part in the ticket lottery, you can sign up for free via the App during the registration period from 5 to 22 November 2026. From 23 to 27 November 2026, all tickets available will be allocated at random. Enable push notifications so you don’t miss any updates!
Pressestimmen
"Man to Man"
by Manfred Karge in an translation by Anthony Vivis
Director: Stephen Unwin
Designer: Bunny Christie
With: Tilda Swinton
Berlin premiere on 9. February 2027, 7.30 pm, Großes Haus
A co-production by the Royal Court Theatre, the Berliner Ensemble and Brian & Dayna Lee.
Registrierung für die Ticket-Lotterie
FAQ
"Man to Man" Ticket Lottery
As at 25 September 2026
From 9 to 14 February 2027, the Berliner Ensemble will be staging the international co-production "Man to Man" by Manfred Karge (directed by Stephen Unwin) in Berlin. The production will be performed in English with German surtitles and lasts approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes without an interval.
9 February 2027, 7.30 pm Berlin premiere
10 February 2027, 7.30 pm
11 February 2027, 7.30 pm
12 February 2027, 2.00 pm and 7.30 pm
13 February 2027, 7.30 pm
14 February 2027, 2.00 pm and 7.30 pm
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There are a total of eight performances of 'Man to Man' in Berlin. Tickets cost between 10 euros and 124 euros across six different seating categories:
Seating category 1: 124 euros
Seating category 2: 98 euros
Seating category 3: 76 euros
Seating category 4: 58 euros
Seating category 5: 36 euros
Seating category 6*: 15 euros
Standing places*: 10 euros
(*with restricted view) -
Tickets will be allocated via a ticket lottery on the Berliner Ensemble app from 23 November 2026. Members of the BE-Freundeskreis will have the opportunity, as part of an exclusive pre-sale, to purchase one ticket per active member one week before the pre-sale begins, from 16 November 2026 at 10.00 am (members with a partner membership will therefore receive a total of two tickets, and those with a family membership up to four tickets).
To take part in the ticket lottery, you can register via the Berliner Ensemble app during a free registration period from 5 to 22 November 2026, specifying the number of tickets you wish to purchase (maximum two tickets per person) and your preferred seating category. To increase your chances, you can select multiple seating categories and register for up to three different performance dates.
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You can only take part in the ticket lottery via the Berliner Ensemble app, which you can download free of charge from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
From 23 to 27 November 2026, all available tickets in all seating categories will be allocated at random. It is not possible to select specific seats; seating is allocated automatically. When booking two tickets, the system will attempt to seat you next to each other (subject to availability).
Those selected by the system will receive an automatic notification via the Berliner Ensemble app directly on their smartphone, as well as by email. The allocated tickets can be purchased on a binding basis within a maximum of six hours. We recommend that you enable push notifications for the app under 'My Profile' and in your smartphone settings. If you select the automatic payment option (available by credit card only) during registration, your credit card will be charged directly if you win, and you will automatically receive your digital tickets via the Berliner Ensemble app.
If you do not claim the tickets you have been allocated, they will be returned to the prize draw.
The QR code on the digital ticket, which is required for admission, will only become visible in the Berliner Ensemble app eight hours before the performance begins. Please note: You must present the digital ticket in the Berliner Ensemble app upon entry. Screenshots or printouts will not be accepted.
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It is generally not possible to transfer your booked tickets to another customer. If you are unable to attend, you can cancel the tickets through our box office under a special cancellation policy for a fee of 10 euros, no later than seven days before the performance. You will receive a refund via your original payment method.
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Any remaining tickets will be allocated via a lottery in February 2027, four days before the respective performance. You do not need to re-register for the lottery; your registration remains valid. To ensure you do not miss any notifications, please enable push notifications for the Berliner Ensemble app on your smartphone and under 'My Profile' in the app.
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School pupils, students, participants in the Federal Voluntary Service and apprentices are eligible for a limited number of tickets priced at 25 euros for performances from 10 to 14 February 2027. These tickets are also allocated via a lottery through the Berliner Ensemble app.
People with severe disabilities and wheelchair users with appropriate proof may also take part in the lottery via the Berliner Ensemble app and will be notified via the app if they are selected. It is not possible to choose specific seats. As part of a dedicated allocation, people with severe disabilities can purchase tickets for 49 euros (50 per cent discount in seating category 2). People who use a wheelchair, and any accompanying person, pay 25 euros per ticket.
Please note: Admission to performances with discounted tickets is only possible upon presentation of appropriate proof of eligibility together with an official photo ID. No exceptions will be made.
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You can pay via the Berliner Ensemble app using Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit card and PayPal. To ensure quick confirmation during the lottery process, we recommend that you register your preferred payment method in advance. Automatic payment in the event of a successful draw is only possible if you have registered a credit card.
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To prevent fraud and unauthorised resale, the ticket lottery is run exclusively via the Berliner Ensemble app. Unfortunately, tickets purchased from unknown or unverified sellers will not be accepted at the door. All tickets are issued in the name of the person making the booking (up to two tickets per order) and are digitally encrypted in the Berliner Ensemble app.
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Due to the high demand that is expected, tickets will be allocated at random via the ticket lottery on the Berliner Ensemble app, to give as many people as possible the chance to see this production. Furthermore, the Berliner Ensemble app helps to prevent unauthorised resale on the black market, whilst at the same time offering you the greatest possible protection against ticket fraud.
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You can contact our box office team by telephone on +49 30 28408 155 from Monday to Saturday between 10.00 am and 6.30 pm, or by email at theaterkasse@berliner-ensemble.de.
