For our first collaboration with the Renaissance Theater Berlin, second-semester students, under the mentorship of Prof. Kerstin Laube and director Karim Mezdour, developed various stage and costume concepts for David Mamet’s play ‘Oleanna.’ In preparation, the play was interpreted and discussed in a workshop with playwright Maria Milisavjlevic.

Ilana Quarteville’s stage design and Zoë Bertram’s costumes will now be realised at the Renaissance Theater Berlin until the premiere on 25 October 2025. Another performance is planned at the TU Berlin in lecture hall H2053 on Friday, 28 November at 6:30 p.m.

In the beginning was the Word. And basically, right after that came the dispute over the Word. ‘He says – she says,’ speech and counter-speech and a situation that is virtually impossible for us to resolve: who is right? Carol, a student, enters the office of her professor John with concerns about her transfer just as he – on the verge of a lifetime appointment – is busy finalising the purchase of his house. Both would rather be anywhere else than in this office. They meet and discuss – and suddenly the accusation of abuse hangs in the air. OLEANNA gives us the unique opportunity to be there. The alleged abuse takes place before our eyes and is negotiated before our eyes. We experience how quickly seemingly harmless situations can escalate when each side only allows its own point of view. And how difficult it becomes to be right and to remain right.

OLEANNA is THE masterpiece by Oscar-nominated Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet.

Premiere at the Renaissance Theatre Berlin: 25 October 2025
with Heikko Deutschmann & Ivy Quainoo
Director: Karim Mezdour
Stage design: Ilana Quatreville
Costumes: Zoë Bertram
Stage design assistant: Daria Hannig
Costume assistant: Reyan Akdemir

Stage & costume mentorship: Prof. Kerstin Laube

Tickets & further performance dates Renaissance Theatre:
https://renaissance-theater.de/produktion/oleanna-von-david-mamet/

Tickets for 28 November at 6:30 p.m., TU Berlin Lecture Hall H2053, 5 euros:
https://indiv.themisweb.fr/0426/fEventChoiceIsMade.aspx?idstructure=0426&idevent=1288
adress: Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, 2. OG

Fotos: Greta Brenndoerfer-Siegersbusch