featuring Johannes Kirchberg, singer and actor
Anyone who was a child a few years ago—and some who are still children—knows *Emil and the Detectives*, *The Two Lottchens*, *Pünktchen and Anton*, and many of Erich Kästner’s other wonderful children’s books. And that’s how it should stay! So how about if Erich Kästner came back for a day to tell some stories? Because he has a lot to tell, this Erich Kästner. Not just his stories and
his poems. But also about himself—what it was like to be a child over 120 years ago. That’s why Johannes Kirchberg is now stepping into the role of Erich Kästner and taking you into his world. And he’ll tell you about his childhood in Dresden, a wild chase, his travels, school, and why he wrote children’s books in the first place. For many years, Johannes Kirchberg has been successfully touring with musical-literary evenings. Now, together with director Katinka Springborn, he has brought a program for “people who no longer grow” to the stage. Because: “Only those who grow up and remain children are truly human.”
Johannes Kirchberg has been successfully touring Germany for many years with musical-literary programs. He brings to the stage evenings dedicated to Erich Kästner, Wolfgang Borchert, Kurt Tucholsky, Johannes R. Becher, and, most recently, Hans Leip. After premiering his first program for children in 2020, featuring song lyrics by James Krüss (“Huhn oder Ei”), Johannes Kirchberg fulfilled a long-cherished dream with an Erich Kästner program
designed specifically for children. “Parole Erich!” And since adults also enjoyed this play so much, it is now available in a version expanded with songs and texts for those who are no longer growing up. In this stage play, Erich Kästner returns once more to recount his childhood in Dresden, his school days, his parents, and the reasons that led him to write children’s books. Johannes Kirchberg is driven by a desire to share his enthusiasm for Kästner’s work.
Tickets (€18 / reduced rate €15) are available by calling 038220-80465 or at the box office (while supplies last).
