The Berliner Theatertreffen will forego the women’s quota for the next two years. For the stage festival, the ten most remarkable productions from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland will be selected. Since 2020, the rule has been that at least half must come from women or predominantly female collectives.
“The new jury has, after extensive deliberation, decided to review and invite for the festival editions 2027 and 2028 without a women’s quota,” the festival announced at the conclusion of this year’s Theatertreffen on Sunday evening.
Two jury members explained in the newspaper Welt and on the portal Nachtkritik what, in their view, speaks in favor of the decision. The share of women directing in theater, for example, has risen, and there are nonbinary directing leaders as well. A quota always implies that another criterion also ends up counting in the jury’s selection. And wouldn’t there be quotas for other characteristics, too?
“It will, next year again, be all about what is artistically noteworthy, regardless of who it comes from,” wrote jury member Jakob Hayner in Welt. “And it will involve looking more closely at what—from a critic’s perspective—works well or badly for whom within the operation.”
For the next Theatertreffen, the jury “will share its observations and screening experiences regarding structural inequalities with the public,” the festival said. The women’s quota was introduced in 2019 for the festival editions 2020 and 2021. For each subsequent year, it has been reviewed and decided anew by the jury in office at the time.
Marcy Ellerton
