Janina Sieber is a freelance set and costume designer and architect. She studied in our master’s program in 2016-18. Afterwards, as a set assistant at the Münchner Kammerspiele, she also created some of her own work, such as sets for “Werther’s Quest for Love” and “Nirvanas Last” and spaces for the queer party series “WUSS 3000” and the Münchner Kammerspiele’s new “Habibi Kiosk” in Maximilianstraße, a post-migrant multipurpose store for cultivating radical alliances. She is a founding member of the Munich architecture and urbanism collective PointOfNoReturn, which develops alternative visions for a more vibrant city in temporary structures, resulting in proactive performances.

When you began your studies at the Stage Design_Scenic Space program, did you already have your current job description in mind?
Actually, a lot of what I had envisioned has turned out to be the case. I couldn’t have imagined the combination of relatively classical theater projects that are connected to a theater and the completely self-devised free projects any better. At the same time, it’s nice to see that my start as an architect is still part of my work, and influences my view of theater. What I wouldn’t have thought during the Masters is that I am now passionate about costume design, in addition to spaces. The intuitive work and the even greater possibilities for quick changes bring me great joy and expand the possibilities of staging by so much.

What do you love most about your job?
I find it incredibly fascinating how you, in a team that is often newly thrown together, build entire universes within a few weeks. I’ve always been interested in utopias and dystopias, and I really enjoy creating new ones. But the beauty of theater is that you can make even the smallest moment insanely big and exciting, so that you can inspire people with the small everyday things.

What memories do you associate with the TU BBSR program? What was special about your master’s program?
Since a cohort consists of just under 20 people, you get to know each other very quickly and grow together. I really enjoyed the time in the large studio, cooking together in the communal kitchen, and the pub crawls through Wedding. Also, working in the place detached from the rest of TU felt like an enclave, which was liberating.

Looking back, what does studying at the TU mean to you today? How formative was the TU time for your work today?
My studies at the TU Berlin brought me to the theater. I decided relatively spontaneously to give classical architecture a rest in order to devote myself to more performative formats, for example in urban space. My passion for theater has always been very strong, but I only really immersed myself in this enchanting world through the master’s degree and its practice-oriented teaching. I had considered going back to architecture with my newfound for a while, but the degree ultimately persuaded me to stay with theater full-time.

What did it mean to live in a cultural metropolis like Berlin while studying?
Through Berlin’s many theaters and the great cultural offer, it was possible to watch a lot of theater very quickly and thus to open up a wide spectrum of art, I also learned a lot from it and found it very enriching.