Berlin Theater Premieres Novel Adaptation
What happened
A stage adaptation of Miranda July's novel "All Fours" had its world premiere at Berlin's Sophiensaele theater on February 15th. The performance is part of the city's experimental theatre scene.
Why it matters
- Miranda July's 2024 novel, "All Fours," was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. The book explores a 45-year-old woman's sexual awakening and quest for a new kind of freedom. - The German stage rights for the novel were granted by July to the production's all-female creative team, which includes directors Sabine Auf der Heyde and Holle Münster, along with the two actresses. - The play stars two of Germany's most distinguished actresses, Meike Droste and Fritzi Haberlandt. Droste is a recipient of the FAUST Theater Prize for Best Actress, while Haberlandt has won two German Film Awards and a FAUST Award. - The venue, Sophiensaele, was co-founded in 1996 by choreographer Sasha Waltz and is a prominent center for Germany's independent performing arts scene. The historic building was constructed in 1904-05 and served as a meeting place for leftist revolutionaries like Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in the 1910s and 20s. - The four-woman creative team adapted the more than 400-page novel into a two-hour stage performance. - Following its sold-out premiere run in Berlin, the production is scheduled for performances at the Theater im Pumpenhaus in Münster and the Théatres de la Ville de Luxembourg. - The project is a co-production involving Sophiensaele, the Théatres de la Ville de Luxembourg, and Theater im Pumpenhaus Münster, with funding from Germany's Capital Cultural Fund. - A separate screen adaptation of "All Fours" is also in development as a television series by Starz.
Key numbers
- A stage adaptation of Miranda July's novel "All Fours" had its world premiere at Berlin's Sophiensaele theater on February 15th.
- - Miranda July's 2024 novel, "All Fours," was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction.
- The book explores a 45-year-old woman's sexual awakening and quest for a new kind of freedom.
- The venue, Sophiensaele, was co-founded in 1996 by choreographer Sasha Waltz and is a prominent center for Germany's independent performing arts scene.
What happens next
- Following its sold-out premiere run in Berlin, the production is scheduled for performances at the Theater im Pumpenhaus in Münster and the Théatres de la Ville de Luxembourg.
Quick answers
What happened in Berlin Theater Premieres Novel Adaptation?
A stage adaptation of Miranda July's novel "All Fours" had its world premiere at Berlin's Sophiensaele theater on February 15th. The performance is part of the city's experimental theatre scene.
Why does Berlin Theater Premieres Novel Adaptation matter?
Miranda July's 2024 novel, "All Fours," was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. The book explores a 45-year-old woman's sexual awakening and quest for a new kind of freedom. The German stage rights for the novel were granted by July to the production's all-female creative team, which includes directors Sabine Auf der Heyde and Holle Münster, along with the two actresses. The play stars two of Germany's most distinguished actresses, Meike Droste and Fritzi Haberlandt. Droste is a recipient of the FAUST Theater Prize for Best Actress, while Haberlandt has won two German Film Awards and a FAUST Award. The venue, Sophiensaele, was co-founded in 1996 by choreographer Sasha Waltz and is a prominent center for Germany's independent performing arts scene. The historic building was constructed in 1904-05 and served as a meeting place for leftist revolutionaries like Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in the 1910s and 20s. The four-woman creative team adapted the more than 400-page novel into a two-hour stage performance. Following its sold-out premiere run in Berlin, the production is scheduled for performances at the Theater im Pumpenhaus in Münster and the Théatres de la Ville de Luxembourg. The project is a co-production involving Sophiensaele, the Théatres de la Ville de Luxembourg, and Theater im Pumpenhaus Münster, with funding from Germany's Capital Cultural Fund. A separate screen adaptation of "All Fours" is also in development as a television series by Starz.
