Simplicissimus Kabaret

The Arriaga Theatre is hosting the première of the brand new production by Tartean Teatroa. “Simplicissimus”, written and directed by Patxo Tellería, takes its name from a 17th Century German picaresque novel, which gave a humorous account of the horrors of the Thirty Years War; as well as from a Berlin cabaret in the interwar period.

Based on the haphazard, terrible, beautiful and painful lives of three famous Berlin comedians of the interwar period, this new show explores the limits of humour and pays tribute to the comics who were persecuted for trying to exercise their profession in freedom. Grunbaum, Fink and Gerron are three cabaret comedians. They don’t remember, but it turns out they were gassed in concentration camps for their bold and critical humour.

Now, nearly a century later, they have come together in a new cabaret, Simplicissimus, to carry on doing what they did back then: having fun and, if possible, pricking consciences. Singers and musicians perform live in this 21st Century cabaret, which has deep roots in the history of the European wars of the 20th century.

Simplicissimus Kabaret will be performed in Basque