The day is approaching when seven directors and 35 actors from 17 countries will gather in Berlin for the international laboratory Focal Point, a project of Berlin’s newly established Urban Theater. I find theater deeply fascinating, as what happens on stage is a miniature universe in itself. At the same time, what happens behind the stage is, for me, almost more captivating. This is an opportunity to observe firsthand to what extent core business principles and best practices apply. The creative economy adds additional constraints and complexities, turning it into a stress test of sorts.
Prologue
Having had the chance to closely observe the life of this start-up theater in preparation for the launch of Focal Point, I couldn’t help but notice challenges similar to those faced by many start-ups. Here is what I have found to be the most effective approaches:
Act 1: Execution vs. Strategy
With a small team, everyone wears multiple hats. In a theater context, where emotions run high and creative energy flows freely, this takes on unexpected shapes and forms—so feel free to let the Mad Hatter in. But jokes aside, those shaping the long-term strategy of Urban Theater are also the ones executing the bulk of the work for the current project. Sometimes these involve seemingly trivial and absurdly small issues, yet they still need to be taken seriously. The Urban Theater management team must constantly switch between these two modes, requiring a very conscious mental shift between "project mode" and "long-term vision"—or, if you prefer, between "firefighting" and "planting apple trees."
What has worked well is dedicated time for strategy and long-term vision in the calendar. The weekly “Strategy Meeting” has been a staple from the very beginning. If it gets canceled, it is rescheduled rather than skipped. This provides a moment to pause the operational chaos, take a step back, and reflect: Are we heading in the right direction? Do our current efforts align with our long-term goals? Are we facing recurring issues that need a fundamental solution? What should we proactively address before it escalates?
Act 2: Agility vs. Planning
The total project team consists of almost 100 participants across 12 time zones. Some belong to the core Urban Theater team, some are part of the core project team for Focal Point, and others play minor roles, responsible for small yet essential tasks. The team operates in a hybrid mode, using at least three languages actively—English being the common one but not native to everyone. This constellation puts significant pressure on leadership to provide a clear structure and plan that allows team members to be agile in execution.
The Urban Theater management team has taken planning very seriously, ensuring that there is no ambiguity about where the team stands, what the priorities are, and where the focus should be. Their consistent approach reinforces the message that agility does not mean a lack of planning.
External vs. Internal Communication
Since Focal Point is a public-facing event, external communication has played a pivotal role. However, ensuring internal alignment and coordination among participants has required another critical mental shift to streamline internal communication. This has translated into practical steps such as:
While theater is a world full of mystery, magic, glitter and creative spontaneity, a closer look behind the curtains at its operations reveals the same patterns as in a tech start-up. Whether in theater or business, balancing execution with strategy, structure with agility, and external with internal communication is what separates a chaotic mess from a masterpiece.
For me, this serves as the ultimate stress test of best practices—if they work in this highly dynamic environment, they are likely to work in more conventional business settings. If not, then perhaps the basics need to be revisited.
Epilogue
The Focal Point project will culminate in seven work-in-progress performances at Theater Strahl in Berlin on February 22nd and 23rd. In my mind, this is the place to be! I certainly will be there—not just for the performances, but also to refine my “managing ad-hoc issues” toolkit. Looking forward to seeing you there as well!
