The British Berliner
A lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, Brexit, the Royal Family, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin!
SHOW ME: How to get your own dazzling glamour in Berlin.
Photo: Robert Grischek
Last week, I told you that I would be concentrating on my city of Berlin for the months of May and June. Early summer is a perfect time to visit as the spring sunshine begins to poke its head up and the huge hordes of tourists have not yet arrived: that’s going to be in July and August.
Early summer is also the beginning of “the season.”
What’s the season, I hear you whisper?
Summer In Berlin.
Why the season can be described as when the festivals, the music, the culture and the arts, all begin to open their doors and show you why Berlin is one of the most visited cities in Europe, if not the world. We may not be London or Paris but by jove, Berlin gives every city a run for its money, and then some!
A fortnight ago, I watched a Shakespeare play by the English National Theatre LIVE, and last week, I went to one of Berlin’s oldest theatre venues: the Friedrichstadt-Palast. I was there to watch an entertainment performance called SHOW ME.
WHAT’S THE FRIEDRICHSTADT-PALAST?
Photo: Benjamin Stumpf
The Friedrichstadt-Palast is a unique theatre venue dating right back from 1919 and a major contribution to the distinctive cultural image of the jazz years in Berlin during the roaring twenties and the early swinging thirties. The golden twenties resulted in the wonderful artistic spread of revues, cabarets, dancing halls, and variety shows, before that world and everything in it, was destroyed by Hitler in 1933.
Today, Friedrichstadt-Palast is at the heart of the former East Berlin known as “Mitte.” Mitte is now known as the East End and the Broadway area of Berlin. It’s also part of Berlin’s hip nightlife quarter so if you’re looking for the theatre land of Berlin all you have to do is walk.
Stretching from the Friederick William, (Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia) boulevard of “Unter den Linden,” to the so-hip-it-hurts quarter of “Hackerscher Markt;” Mitte is the district with the highest concentration of theatres in Germany!
WHAT IS SHOW ME?
SHOW ME is the latest production show of the Friedrichstadt-Palast in which the largest theatre stage in the world presents a paradise of colour, shape, bodies, art forms, clothes and the glamour of a live broadway show. With a staff of 162 and over 100 performers at each show, SHOW ME is the biggest long-running revue show in the world!
Wow!
WHAT DOES THE SHOW’S NAME MEAN?
SHOW ME from an artist’s perspective means ‘I’m going to show you the inner me or myself,’ and that means the inner me side of more than 100 artists! From the audience perspective, SHOW ME is a type of flirty, demanding cry, of ‘Show me what you can do’ or surprise me, excite me, seduce me.
Imagine a throwback of the 1900’s to the 1970’s?
Imagine the fingertips of a Hollywood producer?
Imagine showgirls on the stage floor with feathers, flowers, tight bodices, and long legs?
Photo: Robert Grischek
Imagine flying performers, an underwater scene of mermaids and a Korean-Japanese force of disciplined artists?
Imagine a big budget, more sensation, more glamour, more glitter, and more flamboyant costumes?
Imagine extravagant splendour, excess and indulgence?
Photo: Robert Grischek
Imagine the beauty of Parisian haute couture?
Imagine a sexual tease right before your very eyes with gorgeous girls parading the stage, coveting with chairs, music and red hair?
Imagine the tight bodies of well-oiled six-packed young men who not only look good but also know how to dance?
Imagine the sophisticated sequined 1960-1970’s girl-group, show girl performance era of The Supremes?
Imagine hits from the like of En Vogue, Christina Aguilera and Annie Lennox?
All that is SHOW ME!
I mean, SHOW ME was something else.
Photo: Robert Grischek
The opening and closing costumes were designed by Christian Lacroix. The extravagant and provocative costumes were designed by Uta Loher and the scenery and backdrop were created by Conny Lüders. More than 500 costumes, including show couture dresses and clothing were designed and embroidered with glittering stones, and rose petals.
There was also a gigantic waterfall at a height of over 20 meters that was put in the middle of the room. How they did that, I will never know? Secrets of the trade I guess!
Not only that but 12 choreographers were contracted to work with 40 female dancers and 20 male dancers. You know they can only be the cream of the crop as these choreographers had previously worked with Katy Perry, Justin Timberland, Peter Fox and the Berlin State Ballet.
Photo: Robert Grischek
With production costs amounting to over €9 million, SHOW ME is also the Friedrichstadt-Palast most expensive and ambitious production yet.
DO I NEED TO UNDERSTAND GERMAN TO WATCH IT?
Nope!
The show is excellent for an international audience, as both German and English are spoken, and all you need to do is sit back, look, and enjoy the show as it’s a feast for the eyes!
MY VERDICT?
A stunning success! SHOW ME is a family-friendly (albeit not for young children), glamour production.
If you love lavish entertainment, music, dance, and cabaret, in the wonderful setting of Germany’s capital city – Berlin, then Friedrichstadt-Palast is an excellent location. Going to SHOW ME is a performance worth visiting of an afternoon or evening, while you are here.
Because you can:
• Be extremely close to (depending on your ticket), a lavish show production as the seating is very good.
• Be dazzled for a night by all the wonderful stage performers.
• Imagine that the singers are looking and singing, just for you.
• Come early and wander around the largest theatre stage in the world.
• Be a part of history and imagine yourself back in the roaring twenties of Berlin.
SHOW ME only runs until the 19th of July, 2014 so get your tickets soon!
Tickets for SHOW ME in Berlin are from €16.90 for adults and reduced for children and students. Tickets can be bought online here.
Approximate running time: 2 hours 30 minutes, including a 25 minute interval.
The recommended minimum age is at least 12 years old as there are a few mildly erotic items that might get young children asking too many uncomfortable questions, and older audience members, out of their chairs!
Drinks are reasonably priced with beers being from €4.00, glasses of wine from €7.00, and cocktails from €8.00.
For more information about the show please contact: SHOW ME.
For more information about the venue please contact: Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin.
Photo: Robert Grischek
This article is not sponsored and even though I received a complimentary ticket, all opinions are my very own! Every week for the months of May and June, I’ll be writing about summer time in Berlin, and what to do when you get here.
Next week, I will be writing about the Long Night of Museums or die Lange Nacht der Museen which takes place on May 17th. It’s an all night museum and exhibition family event, taking place on May 17, 2014 from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Should be a lot of fun!
Watch this space!
Courtesy of the Palast Orchestra, Berlin.
Have you watched a show production? What did you like best? Would you watch a dazzling show such as SHOW ME?
Are you coming for the summer? See you in Berlin.
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32 Comments on “SHOW ME: How to get your own dazzling glamour in Berlin.”
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Looks like a fun show that me and my gal would really enjoy!
Thank you Phil. I think you’d both enjoy it. Yes! It was a lot of fun, a bit like the New York Cirque du Soleil gig you went to a while ago. 🙂
Looks very Vegas-ish!!! I’ve caught a few shows like that and they are always fun. “O” by Cirque du Soleil had a water theme that left you wondering too. Nice to know Berlin has such a grand show!
Thanks kemkem. It is a bit Vegas-like but in a nice way and so much closer to home LOL! I heard that the Cirque du Soleil show is not to be missed. They were here in Berlin, just last week but only for a few days and I was already booked up with stuff! I hope to catch them next time around. 🙂
Yeah, Berlin is full of surprises. If it’s anywhere, it’s going to be here or has already been LOL!
Seriously, I think I need to live in Berlin for a while. You are selling it! Also this show… I want to see it so bad. I think I should come and follow you around the city for awhile, in a totally non-creepy way.. haha 🙂
I think you do @threetogo. I love Berlin so “selling” it, isn’t that difficult LOL! Its in the centre of Europe, it’s international, tolerant, alternative, sporty, crazy, and cheap. Plus, as expats, we’re treated like royalty. What not to like LOL!
Yeah, SHOW ME really was a fun night. Imagine, if I were still in England or the US? A night out in London used to be a whole weekend in Berlin, including going to fine-dining restaurants, cocktails in Berlin bars, AND the flight!
Emm. Following me around in the daytime would be fine but you’d have to go home at night otherwise, my husband might have something to say about it LOL! 🙂
You mean like l intend on doing???? ;0)) of course in a non creepy way as you put it..lol! She is selling it!
LOL! LOL! All are welcome. 🙂 🙂
We will be her entourage!
No autographs please!!! 🙂
Another great show to see in Berlin! I love shows but couldn’t afford to go the west end very often back in London. The last things I saw there were Woman in Black and Ghost Stories, which was absolutely terrifying but unique.
Absolutely Amy! Come see SHOW ME in Berlin!
Watching a show in London? Tell me about it. I used to live there and even though I had a generous corporate salary, it was cheaper flying to other countries every other weekend or going to the Monday pay-whatever-you-like-it’s-not-the-real-deal-night! Are they still doing that I wonder? Anyway, I went to London in January and I wanted to watch “Woman in Black” too but it looked really scary and I was in London for only a quick weekend. Alone. So I watched a Bollywood musical instead LOL! It was great too. 🙂
Wow, this looks EPIC! I would definitely pre-game at those drinks prices, but otherwise – sold 🙂
Thank you Anna, it really was EPIC. 🙂 I had a lovely time and the drink prices certaintly didn’t hurt LOL! I can’t wait to see the next production show in the Autumn.
Sometimes I wonder what are we (me and Dale) waiting for to move to Berlin, there is so much going on there and so much we already love about the city. I love shows like this and if we were there we would have probably gone to see it.
Come on over Franca. 🙂 Berlin is all the rage right now. There is an awful lot that people can do here and the beautiful thing is, that things are either free or enormously budget-friendly. Where else can you watch such glamour (value seats) for under €20.00, and if you have a student card, even cheaper!
Thanks for commenting. 🙂
I’m visiting Berlin this summer and guess what…. I can’t wait! Lovin’ your dress, so beautiful :). What’s the weather like right now?
Thank you so much for commenting on my dress Agness. That’s really sweet of you. 🙂 Berlin will welcome you with open arms and you’re going to have a fabulous time! The weather right now is between 15-20°C. Fine in the day with summer showers but by June and July, it’s going to be pretty hot! Nice one Agness.
P.S. Whenever you get here, give me a shout so that we can have a drink or two and you can tell me all about your adventures in China. Fascinating stuff 🙂
Helloooooooooo gentlemen! This looks like a super awesome show, especially if you love the whole wide-eye spectacle thing. I’m jealous!
Tell me about it Jenna. Those boys were smokingly gorgeous and the girls were just as delicious LOL! It was a great show and I was enormously lucky to have the opportunity to see it. Thanks so much for coming by! 🙂
I wish they had shows like this here! I don’t know that Cirque de Soleil really lives up to it!
Thank you for the love Jenna! 🙂 🙂
This looks so cool! I’m going to look for some tickets now – hope it’s playing for a while longer…
Thanks you so much for coming by Adam! I can’t wait to meet you at Travel Massive in Berlin LOL! You’ll have a great time. It really was a lot of fun. SHOW ME is going to be on only until July, 19th. 🙂 🙂
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