A Queer Perspective on the Dark Side of the Classics

The drag duo Pink Grimm brings a queer reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedies to the stage with “Shakesqueer: God Save the Queens.” The premiere is scheduled for September 18, 2026 at the Pfefferberg Theater in Berlin.

Andi Bouletten and Rottscha devote themselves in their new production to some of the English dramatist’s best-known works. The program includes, among others, “Hamlet,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Rapid character changes collide with costumes by Narciss & Goldfaden and a queer perspective on the depths of the classics.

Between Tragedy and Drag Comedy

The question of whether Shakespeare should still be performed today doesn’t trouble the duo. Pink Grimm is more interested in what the enduring, centuries-spanning images of gender and power tell us about contemporary losses and longings. At the center are power and powerlessness, the price of love, and the costs that visibility can bring.
“Shakesqueer: God Save the Queens” moves between tragic motifs and unavoidable comedy. The production revisits the conflicts within the source material and blends them with questions of identity and belonging. In this way, the show also responds to a present in which queer visibility has once again become a hotly contested political issue.
Directed by Roman Shamov, with Steffen Nitzel responsible for the set design. The costumes are by Isa Mehnert and Heike Hartmann, also known as Narciss & Goldfaden. Feline Pieper serves as the assistant.
A preview takes place on September 17 at 8:00 PM. Following the premiere on September 18, additional performances are scheduled for September 19 at 8:00 PM and December 29 at 7:00 PM. The venue is the Pfefferberg Theater at 176 Schönhauser Allee in Berlin. (dd/pm)