Bastian Reiber

Country: Germany

Biography

A member of the ensemble at the Schaubühne since the 2017/18 season. Born in Mönchengladbach. Studied acting at the University of Music and Theatre « Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy » in Leipzig and at the Neues Theater Halle, where he also began working with Herbert Fritsch. From 2009 to 2012, he was a member of the ensemble at Theater Magdeburg. Starting in 2011, he appeared in further productions with Herbert Fritsch at the Volksbühne Berlin. From 2013 to 2017, he was a member of the ensemble at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg, working with directors such as Karin Beier, Christoph Marthaler, Karin Henkel, and Katie Mitchell.

Film and TV roles include Der Tatortreiniger, Magical Mystery (directed by Arne Feldhusen, 2017), and Stasikomödie (directed by Leander Haußmann, 2022).

Named “Young Actor of the Year” in 2012 by Theater heute, recipient of the Boy Gobert Prize in 2015, and the Berlin Art Prize from the Academy of Arts in 2022.

GENESIS

Direction and Concept: Bastian Reiber

World Premiere

Ku’damm 156

A nightmare becomes reality: An actor steps onto the stage and realizes he’s in the wrong play. A white room is cluttered with wooden crates—there isn’t even a set in place. But the audience is already there, looking at the actor with hope and anticipation, expecting him to begin… But begin what? He doesn’t know the play he has ended up in. He’s in the wrong place. A mistake. A miscast. A theatrical error.

But what if a mistake holds a possibility? What if it’s a creative principle?

And so, from nothing, he begins to create something—something that somehow fits this half-formed stage world unfolding before him. All the while, one question looms ominously over his performance: Is this something already? Is what he’s doing enough? When does something become something?

And maybe—just maybe—he’s not alone with all these questions?

In his second production in the Studio, ensemble member Bastian Reiber dives deep into the void and becomes a creator against his will—not of the world, but of a play he must bring to life out of necessity.

Direction: Bastian Reiber

Artistic Collaboration: Christina Deinsberger

Set, Costumes, and Concept: Marina Stefan

Music: Thomas Witte

Dramaturgy: Bettina Ehrlich / Elisa Leroy

With: Bastian Reiber, Axel Wandtke, Thomas Witte

Duration: approx. 85 minutes

Premiere: November 30, 2023

With texts from La chair de l’homme by Valère Novarina, published in German as 311 Gottesdefinitionen (311 Definitions of God), translated by Leopold von Verschuer.

Supported by the Friends of the Schaubühne at Lehniner Platz e. V.