A little more than a year ago, I wrote that Verarius, as an organization, and I, as a person, were delighted and privileged to support the first production of Urban Theater (then in its creation) under the motto, “no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.” Today, I am even more delighted to share with you the achievements this young theater has made over the past year and why I am more convinced than ever that supporting this organization is a great idea.
Urban Theater emerged from the turmoil brought by the war against Ukraine to the banks of the Spree. Berlin, as a whole, has become a magnet and focal point for theater professionals of all kinds – actors, playwrights, choreographers, light and sound technicians, directors… They come in different shapes and forms, having gained various degrees of fame within or outside their home countries. Yet, they are united by shared core values and an unshakable determination to pursue their calling without compromising their principles.
Berlin became the new hub due to the strong relationships that had been established before the war. The depth of these connections also speaks volumes about how closely aligned these schools of thought are in terms of approach, aesthetics, and values – but we will leave that to theater theorists and historians. Our focus is more on what the members of Urban Theater have managed to accomplish over the past year and what a humble project manager can learn from it.
First and foremost, Urban Theater successfully registered as an official non-profit organization. In Germany, this means navigating a lengthy and equally exhausting bureaucratic process, where you submit piles of documents and prove your trustworthiness, commitment, and good intentions. Going through just one bureaucratic process is clearly not enough of a challenge for passionate hearts. So, they spiced up their lives by applying for state and external funding to focus on creating their repertoire at a later stage. Now, grant applications themselves are an homage to Joseph Heller and represent an adorable Catch-22: to receive your first grant, you should have already been awarded one. So, rejections also steadily piled up… But guess what? All that effort was not in vain! Urban Theater managed to secure a grant from none other than the Federal Foreign Office, which will cover approximately 95% of the costs for a theater laboratory, “Focal Point,” a truly international project. Moreover, the proposal was approved even before their webpage went online, something barely conceivable in our digital era.
Observing all this up close, I was consistently amazed by how the participants managed to switch between perspectives, respect deadlines, and fulfill various requirements, all while continuing to prepare, organize, and stage their performances, and maintain day jobs in parallel.
There was steady progress on all levels and dimensions. I found their ability to distinguish and pursue both the urgent and the important, without falling prey to blind activism, truly remarkable. For me, this was not only a demonstration of exceptional organizational skills but also a powerful reminder that knowing why you are doing something gives you a boost that no energy drink can match.
On top of all that, there was one more item on the slow cooker and the ultimate reason I decided to devote this entry to Urban Theater. Their webpage went online yesterday (so if you pay close attention when you open it, you might catch the scent of fresh paint – or rather, fresh paint and oriental scents: the web developer is working from Thailand).
On the webpage, you can learn more about the theater's purpose, values and principles. As a closing note, I would like to highlight one of these principles: uniting people. Urban Theater lives a clear integrative purpose. Indeed, the theater stage is perhaps the best reminder that everyone plays a role. However, there is something deeper beneath that layer – something even more profound than nationality, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Urban Theater is living proof that Germans, Russians, Ukrainians, Jews – everyone can stand on the same stage and work together as long as they share common values and recognize that the stage is big enough for everyone. This integrative intent is sorely needed in these times. With that, Urban Theater lives the maxim, “do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” In my opinion, they are doing a marvelous job, which is why I am very happy to continue supporting them with the “what you have” part, and I invite you to do the same. Whether it’s attending a show, making a donation, or spreading the word, it will be hugely appreciated. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something, and all together we can make a real and tangible difference to the world we happened to be born into.
