Celebrating Nele Hertling on her 90th Birthday

Nele Hertling, a noteworthy figure in the Berlin theatre scene, is set to receive the Berlin Theater Prize 2024. This news coincides with her 90th birthday, which she celebrates this week. Established in May as part of the traditional theater meeting, this prize is a testament to her contribution to the performing arts over the years.

The jury’s decision to award Hertling was based on her six-decade-long impact on Berlin’s theatre landscape. She has been instrumental in ushering in a new era of contemporary art and has consistently supported, promoted, and nurtured artists with a stubborn dedication to their craft. She has been an initiator and redefiner of cultural institutions, festivals, funding funds, networks, and partnerships, creating spaces and opportunities for artists to thrive and grow.

Over the years, the Berlin Theater Prize has honored a range of individuals in the theatre industry, including playwrights, directors, and actresses. The inaugural recipient was George Tabori in 1988. Subsequent recipients include renowned figures like Pina Bausch, Heiner Müller, Frank Castorf, and Henry Hübchen, Herbert Fritsch, Sandra Hülser, and Sivan Ben Yishai. However, individuals working behind the scenes, like Hertling, have been largely absent from this list.

Spaces for the new

Born in Berlin in 1934, Nele Hertling has played an extraordinary role in the city’s theatre scene. She has been instrumental in bringing to life stages that were previously non-existent. Her contributions started in the 1970s at the Academy of Arts, where she co-founded the legendary “Pantomime, Music, Dance, Theater” festival with Dirk Scheper. This festival was a pioneer in introducing contemporary, international performance forms to the city.

Her influence continued when she was chosen by then Senator for Culture Volker Hassemer to lead the Berlin workshop for the city of culture in 1988. This initiative paved the way for the re-establishment of the Hebbel Theater and the dance workshop. It also led to the creation of a network of European co-production facilities, which was later expanded by Matthias Lilienthal and Annemie Vanackere, their successors at HAU.

The European stage

Sasha Waltz and Jochen Sandig, in their volume “Ins Offene,” published by the Academy of Arts for Nele Hertling in 2022, laud her significant contribution to contemporary dance. Boris Charmatz, the director of the Wuppertal Dance Theater, considers her a crucial part of Europe’s cultural landscape. For Barrie Kosky, it’s clear: “We need more Nele Hertlings”.

Her dedication and passion have played a key role in shaping the international cultural scene. Dutch colleague Hugo de Greef has fondly described her as a “troublemaker,” a testament to her relentless determination and perseverance.

In Berlin, she is known for her assertiveness, persistence, and her unique preferences, which she has fiercely defended and championed. She has successfully navigated the intricacies of cultural politics and has held roles at the DAAD, the Academy of Arts, the Franco-German Cultural Council, the Federal Cultural Foundation, and the Goethe Institute. She is often referred to as the “Grande Dame”, but this title doesn’t quite capture the essence of her active involvement in the field.

Throughout her career, she has maximized the potential of Berlin’s cultural scene. However, her vision of establishing a large venue dedicated to dance and performance remains unrealized. Nevertheless, the Berlin Festival is keeping this idea alive with its new “Performing Arts Season”. The “Dance in August” event is also part of Hertling’s legacy.