
Thursday, 16 January
How much would you pay to sleep at the Berliner Ensemble?
Facing significant budget cuts, the renowned Berliner Ensemble has resorted to an unconventional fundraising strategy: auctioning off an overnight stay on its iconic stage. The auction, which is now at over €1000 is currently underway on eBay.
Berliner Ensemble artistic director Oliver Reese, citing the Berlin Senate’s severe budget cuts for the city’s cultural institutions, explained the initiative as a creative response to the current financial constraints. “We took the politicians’ suggestions to heart and looked for new avenues,” he remarked. The lucky winner, who can bring along up to four guests, will enjoy a night’s sleep on the stage, complete with a bedtime poem recited by an ensemble member.
The auction, which has a starting bid of €250, highlights the growing financial pressures faced by cultural institutions across the city, with Berlin’s 2025 budget facing a €3 billion deficit.