It's a Proscenium World After All...

Out of the seven spaces we’ve seen shows in so far, every single one has used proscenium seating.  For many of the theaters we’ve been in, the proscenium arch is a part of the buildings history, but the more interesting thing is that the theaters that are definitely equipped to produce shows in a non-proscenium seating arrangement haven’t. 

Theater discounter’s space for example is essentially just a large room resembling a typical floor of an office or warehouse, complete with non-movable columns throughout.  Their seating was clearly not permanently fixed, but Reise! Reiser! still used proscenium anyway.  On top of that, the mammoth theater that is Schaubuhne (which we’ve seen two performances in) used proscenium seating for both Hamlet and Death in Venice even though I would personally be very, very surprised if they weren’t equipped to change their seating arrangement. 

I don’t think it’s a negative thing that all of these shows have been in proscenium since that arrangement hasn’t hurt an otherwise good performance.  I’m mostly just curious if this is a larger trend throughout German theater and throughout European theater.  Although to be fair, I’m not confident in saying that it’s even a trend within Berlin theater.  We’re seeing two more shows at Schaubuhne after all, and the two we have seen were both from the same director.  Who knows, maybe its just part of his style to direct in proscenium.  Maybe directors here are just more inclined towards it since so many of the historic theaters are proscenium houses as well.  Maybe its just worked out that the shows we’ve seen have happened to all be in proscenium as well.

I’m just very curious as to other seating arrangements would be treated by the theaters here in Berlin.  I know I personally feel that they use proscenium in a different way here than it’s used in America (especially design wise).  I can’t help but continue to be curious as to how thrust may be handled here since that type of seating is still prevalent in American theater.  Maybe we’ll continue to just see proscenium, maybe I’ll (finally) be surprised, one more week to find out!