Cheers, Uncle Erich!

Celebrating the 125th Birthday of Erich Kästner

“Emil and the Detectives,” “The Double Lottchen,” or “Pünktchen and Anton” – who doesn’t know these classic children’s books? But Erich Kästner was much more than a gifted children’s author: he was a political satirist, a sharp observer, and not least a highly interesting chronicler of 20th-century Germany. Discovering him anew and differently on the occasion of his 125th birthday is worthwhile in many ways.

One of the great admirers of this humorous moralist is actor Walter Sittler. “Erich Kästner is shockingly relevant,” he says, excited about the author with whom he is now deeply involved in his second Kästner project. Together with the ensemble "Die Sextanten," he presents a fascinating monologue through letters, poems, and short stories about the power of memory, the shimmering "golden twenties" in Berlin, and the catastrophe that followed. Also on board is Walter Sittler's daughter, Lea-Marie, who adds musical facets to this complex historical portrait as a singer. A captivating literary-musical evening, sometimes melancholic, sometimes serious, but always with much humor and heart.

Program and cast

Walter Sittler, Actor

Lea-Marie Sittler, Vocals

The Sextanten

Birte Horst, Lighting Design

Michael Schömer, Sound

Gudrun Schretzmeier, Costumes

Libor Šíma, Composition & Arrangement

Martin Mühleis, Text Editing, Direction & Production