industrial Rock and the fourth Wall with Maria

Maria, half Swedish and half Japanese, was brought up in Sweden.  At a young age she became restless and went to Paris and Milan to pursue modelling work, and then onto London to study drama.

How and why did you move to Berlin?  What was your first impression of the city?

I was always fascinated by Berlin and it’s dark history. When I lived in London, I didn’t have any money so I used to stay at home and watch History channel, which might as well be called World War II channel. My situation there was getting quite unbearable. Because of my Theatre work I had managed to amass huge debts. To survive I had about 3-4 different jobs. I was working early mornings at Heathrow Airport with security and customer service, guided tourists, promotion work and wrote some articles for a Swedish Rock magazine.

It was my interest in German heavy industrial Rock that brought me to Berlin.

The magazine I used to work for got me an interview with the drummer in Rammstein so I came over here to report on them. I just fell in love with the city. Never had I been to such a unique place. It is like it is newborn. Constantly changing and growing out of the ruins from the 20^th century. You never get bored here. There is always something going on, it’s vibrant and creative. I returned several times and for awhile I was almost commuting from London. My situation there was getting worse so after awhile I thought: It’s time for a change and it’s in the EU so I can work there and make a fresh start. During my visits I had also met a guitar player who turned out to be a jerk but love is blind. After a few years I realised but my love for the city remained.

You studied theatre and worked as an actress. Do you attend much theatre in Berlin? Do you have a favourite venue?

I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t been as much to the Theatre as I would like to. My music interest has taken over and I am writing for another Swedish magazine now, Slavestate. All my free time is being taken up with attending Rock festivals and gigs. When I first arrived I went to the Berliner Ensemble and I also went to some smaller youth theatres because friends were performing there. My favourite venue is still the Berliner Ensemble because of the quality of their work.

Berliner Ensemble around 1908

Postcard, scanned by Andreas Praefcke

You travelled a lot before settling in Berlin, and still do travel a considerable amount. What has kept you in Berlin?

Travelling is my life and I usually get a bit restless when I stay in the same place for too long. I still travel but I think Berlin will be my base from now on. The place doesn’t feel stagnant and there is so much life here. What kept me here is the creative scene and the energy of it. The city is cheaper than most western capitals and because of this, people can afford to express themselves. Other big cities have become so expensive and money oriented, that all people do is running around trying to stay afloat. Here it is not so important to have a car or a flatscreen TV which makes it feel so more relaxed.

Your knowledge of the city is really impressive. Do you have a specific story or figure from Berlin history that has inspired you?

The 1920’s before the Nazi’s came to power, when the city went through an unprecedented wave of creativity and decadence is my favourite era. My inspiration is the playwright Bertolt Brecht. His concept of the epic Theatre that broke down the fourth wall towards the audience was a new and brave concept. The style and music by Kurt Weil made his plays into a unique experience. My very first Theatre experience was Brecht’s “The Good Person of Szechwan”. I think I was only 9 years old and it blew me away! I was so impressed with how you could tell such an engaging story in such an abstract way that I decided to become an actress. Then I saw “Cabaret” when I was twelve and my obsession with Berlin started seriously. Unfortunately it took me a long time before I got here but I am so glad I finally did and I think I am staying.

Bertold Brecht, Lotte Lenya, Kurt Weill

the one and only Brian

I caught up with Brian after his 2014 season of guiding.  The man has quite a reputation, and having been on his Famous Walk tour, I will say, I did indeed both laugh and cry by the end.  If you are in Berlin during the summer months do not miss the chance to jump on his tour, he will open your heart to Berlin!

I asked Brian about his first experience with this city.  He answered in all capitals.  I think this is an expression of enthusiasm for his adopted home, so I left it as so...

SHOCKING AS IT IS TO REALIZE, I RECENTLY DID THE CALCULATIONS AND FIGURED OUT THAT I FIRST CAME TO BERLIN IN THE EARLY SUMMER OF 1994...YIKES.  I HAD BEEN STUDYING DOWN IN THE BLACK FOREST, AND CAME TO BERLIN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, LIKE EVERYONE DOES,  TO BE ABLE TO STRIKE ONE MORE CITY OFF OF MY "PLACES TO VISIT" LIST.  LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THOSE FEW DAYS WOULD TURN INTO A ENDURING LOVE AFFAIR WITH THIS EXTRAORDINARY TOWN.  BERLIN STARTED TO SPEAK TO ME ON THAT VERY FIRST MORNING, AND SHE HAS NEVER SHUT UP!

Berlin is known for its continual and fast paced transformation, for better or for worse.  One often has the experience of walking down a street after a few months and finding a new glass and steel construction, a garden where an empty lot once was, or a building block were a favorite park had been.  I asked Brian about locations which he has seen change during his years here.

IT'S EASY TO WAX ELOQUENT ABOUT "THE GOOD OLD DAYS", BUT IT'S SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT, IN THE PRESENT.  THAT SAID, IT STILL BREAKS MY HEART TO WALK PAST THE INCREASINGLY INACCESSIBLE, INVISIBLE AND SOON-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN TACHELES.  I BEMOAN THE SHODDINESS OF WHAT CHECKPOINT CHARLIE HAS BECOME: TO MY WAY OF THINKING, IT'S A HISTORICAL SITE THAT DESERVED MUCH BETTER TREATMENT.  AND OF COURSE, I YEARN FOR THEM TO FIIIIIIINALLY COMPLETE THE RENOVATIONS TO THE STAATSOPER, AND TO FINALLY GET THE DARNED PLACE OPEN AGAIN.  

Those who have joined Brain's tour know that it ends with beers at Cafe Cinema.  I offered him the opportunity to invite any former Berliner for a talk.. 

WHAT SPRINGS TO MIND WOULD BE TO SIT DOWN WITH ONE OF THE MONSTERS OF BERLIN'S MID-TWENTIETH CENTURY, AND SIMPLY ASK THEM "WHY"?  BUT I REALLY DON'T FEEL THAT I WOULD BE EMOTIONALLY, OR PERHAPS INTELLECTUALLY, CAPABLE OF DEALING WITH ANSWER THAT MIGHT COME BACK TO ME.  SO INSTEAD, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I'D LOVE TO MEET MY "GREAT GREAT AUNT", MARLENE DIETRICH, IN THE ALLEY BEHIND CINEMA CAFE, TO BE ABLE TO BUY HER A HEFEWEIZEN, AND ASK HER IF SHE'D SING FOR ME. 

Brian splits his time between Berlin and the rest of the world as an opera director, his thoughts on bridging his work... 

IT BREAKS MY TINY LITTLE FIST OF A HEART TO USUALLY BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC FROM EARLY SEPTEMBER TO THE END OF EVERY JUNE, BUT THAT'S THE LIFE OF THE ITINERANT THEATER AND OPERA DIRECTOR...YA GOTTA GO WHERE THE WORK IS!  I'VE GOT A FULL SEASON OF WORK BACK IN CANADA AND THE US, EVERYTHING FROM GILBERT AND SULLIVAN TO DONIZETTI, BUT THE PROJECT THAT EXCITES ME THE MOST IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO BERLIN. THIS YEAR, I'LL BE DIRECTING MY VERY FIRST PRODUCTION OF BRECHT AND WEILL'S THREEPENNY OPERA, A MASTERPIECE THAT HAD ITS PREMIERE RIGHT HERE IN BERLIN ON THE 31ST OF AUGUST, 1928!  EVERY TIME I TAKE A TOUR PAST THE SCHIFFBAUERDAMM THEATER ON FRIEDRICHSTRASSE, I MAKE SURE THE FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE THEATER...WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT!

And when he must leave, what does he stock up on for the rest of the year??! 

IT SOUNDS PRETTY BANAL, BUT MY FAVORITE TOOTHPASTE AND DEODORANT IN THE WORLD HAVE TO BE BOUGHT IN GERMANY.   OKAY OKAY, AND I ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE ALONG A COUPLE OF BAGS OF GUMMIBEARS! 

Thoughts on your annual departure?

EVEN BEFORE I LEAVE BERLIN AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, I CAN ALREADY FEEL THE YEARNING TO GET BACK AS SOON AS I CAN.   CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FINAL SHOW TO CLOSE AT THE END OF NEXT JUNE!

With that, we too anxiously await Brian's return.