Neulinge in Berlin

Dr. David Meeres, originally from Yorkshire, has recently completed his Phd focussing on youth and juvenile delinquency in Nazi and Post War Era Berlin. We talk a little bit about his PhD, and his current project writing a book about youth in Weimar Berlin inspired by a contemporary source written by an intriguing and elusive figure, Ernst Haffner.

Summer Banks a Californian living between Madrid and Berlin chats with me about improv theatre. Summer enlightens me on the virtues, history and challenges of improv and really communicates the magic of getting to be director, writer and actor all at the same time. We chat a little about Summer's current project 'Woman on the Mound' and she recommends places to go and see and get involved in improv in Berlin. We round it of with some really, very naughty dark chocolate and raspberry brownies.

This episode I chat to my lovely friend and colleague Jonathan Lustgarten. We chat about his fascinating family history and talk about his decision to move to Berlin six years ago, leaving behind a comfortable job and stability to devote himself to making music. And we partake in the Brownies slightly paler cousin...the Blondie!

In this episode I chat to Anna Byrne. Anna is a writer and film maker from Kildare, Ireland, and is actually in the process of leaving Berlin after four years living here. Anna has published many short stories online and produced a number of short films. One film in particular tells the story of a famous English language bookshop in Berlin, Another Country, using stop motion animation. Join us for this chat which was funny and insightful and in parts surprisingly frank about some of Anna's more painful life experiences. We round it off with a lovely lemon drizzle! As a warning everyone, we do talk about sexual assault in this episode, so might not be appropriate for all listeners.

In the inaugural episode of Neulinge in Berlin I talk to Brian Bell. A theatre director and actor from Texas, who has spent many years working on productions around the world including Chicago, Japan and Berlin. Brian talks to me about the highs and lows of theatre, translating from English language theatre to German and his most recent production Killer Joe, performing in the Deutsche Nationaltheatre and Staatskapelle Weimar. We also dive in to a sultry dark chocolate and espresso torte!