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Berlin Grand Show: need German?
Do you need German for the Grand Show in Berlin's revue palace? What the evening is, how much is sung in German, and who it is not for.
Book the Grand Show ↗Quick answer
No, you do not need German, though you will hear some. The venue calls the Grand Show a revue driven by dance, music, acrobatics and imagery rather than a linear plot, and says about 60 percent of the songs and spoken passages are in German. It publishes English translations of the lyrics. The evening lasts about two and a half hours with an interval, and you book a seating category, not a seat.
The short answer
You do not need German to enjoy the Grand Show, but you will hear it. The venue's show page says about 60 percent of the songs and spoken passages are performed in German, and it describes the production as driven by visual storytelling, dance, music, acrobatics and imagery rather than by a linear plot. The page lists the language as German and English texts and links a page of English translations of the lyrics. So the big moments carry without words, and the translations help if you want to follow the songs. Reading the translations before you go makes the songs easier to follow.
What the Grand Show is
The Grand Show is the main production of the Friedrichstadt-Palast, the revue theatre at Friedrichstraße 107 in Berlin-Mitte. The booking page sells the current one under the title BLINDED by DELIGHT and says it has over 100 artists on the largest theatre stage in the world, a claim the venue makes about itself. Productions at the house change over the years, so this guide describes the format and not one night's running order. The show on your date is the one on the booking page, and the booking page says it is subject to change. The house also stages other productions, including shows for children, so check that you are booking the Grand Show and not another title.
What a revue is, and what it is not
A revue is a multi-act entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. Wikipedia says that, unlike a musical, a revue has no overarching storyline: a theme acts as the organising motto for acts that are only loosely related, alternating between solo turns and ensemble dances. The venue places its Grand Show in the tradition of the Berlin revue. If you expect a book musical with spoken scenes you must follow closely, this is a different kind of evening. If you want spectacle that reads at a glance, it is the right kind. Wikipedia adds that revues are most famous for visual spectacle, which is exactly what makes the form easy to enjoy in a language you do not speak.
How much German to expect
The venue puts it plainly: roughly 60 percent of the songs and spoken passages are in German, because the production is made in Berlin for local and international audiences. It adds that many international guests enjoy the show without speaking German. Anyone who wants to follow the lyrics can open the English translations the venue links from its show page. Reviewers on the booking page praise the costumes, the lighting and the acrobatics. A few say the sound mix could make the vocals easier to hear, which matters a little more if you also do not know the language. If the songs matter to you, read the translations beforehand so the lyrics are familiar when you hear them.
What is on stage
The booking page names over 100 artists and describes dazzling show entertainment. The venue's show page says the American designer Jeremy Scott designed the costumes, a mix it calls haute couture and pop culture. It puts the number near 600, while the booking page says 500, so read it as hundreds. As both pages describe it, the story thread follows a woman named Luci who wakes in a world made of her own dreams. The venue says the evening is carried by images and not by plot, so the dream is a theme, not a script. Wikipedia says the house also keeps a ballet company and a show band, so the dance and the music come from resident ensembles.
The stage and the house
The present Palast opened on 27 April 1984 at Friedrichstraße 107, which the venue calls the last major grand construction project of East Germany. Wikipedia gives the large hall a capacity of 1,895 and a stage floor of 2,854 square metres, which it calls the largest in the world. The venue's seating page counts 1,899 seats, so call it close to 1,900. The venue also describes the hall as built in an atrium style, which it says gives every classic category a great view of the stage. Wikipedia says the proscenium arch, 24 metres wide, is the widest in Europe, and the venue's backstage page mentions a water basin from 1984 that has been technically modernised.
How the evening runs
Entry begins an hour before the show starts, and the show runs about two and a half hours including an interval. Food and drink stay outside the hall. The venue lets you order drinks and snacks at the foyer bars before the show and have them served at your table during the interval, which saves queuing. Most foyer bars take cards or phones only, and the venue points anyone paying cash to the Palast Bar on the first floor. Your confirmation gives the start for your date. The venue also says the hall is air-conditioned and that it gives free water in the foyer when the temperature outside rises above 28 degrees.
What the ticket does and does not include
The booking page lists the show ticket, use of the coat check and use of Wi-Fi. Food and drinks are not included, and neither is the printed show programme. You choose a seating category when you book, not a seat. The day before the show you receive the final ticket with your seat number from the activity provider, so check your spam folder if it has not arrived. The booking page names the venue itself as the activity provider. The show is subject to change, so check your email in the days before your date. The venue's box office, to the right of the main entrance, opens an hour before the performance for ticket collection, and its ticket hotline is listed on the visit page.
Who this isn't for
The booking page says the show is not suitable for children under 8. The venue recommends a minimum age of 8 and does not admit children under 6. It warns that the show can get loud and recommends ear protection for guests who are sensitive to noise, and it advises people prone to epileptic seizures not to attend because of the lighting, pyrotechnic and visual effects. It is also not a quiet concert, a classical ballet or an opera. If you want a story you can follow word by word, a spoken play will suit you better. The venue invites questions on its ticket hotline, and its visit page lists the number.
Is it worth the evening?
The booking page rates it 4.6 out of 5 from about 390 reviews, and its summary of recent verified reviews praises the production, the costumes, the lighting, and the acrobatics and dance. For a large-scale night out in Berlin it is a strong choice, and the language is a smaller obstacle than it sounds. If you want an intimate evening, or a drama in German, a smaller theatre fits better. Prices depend on the category and the date, so compare seats on the booking page before you decide. The seat guide on this site compares the categories the venue describes, from the classic stalls to VIP. Reviewers describe the evening as well run and enjoyable, according to the booking page's summary.
Booking and cancellation
You book through GetYourGuide, where the booking page shows the dates, the categories on sale and the price in your own currency. Free cancellation applies to that booking up to 24 hours before the show, and the money is returned in full; paying later is offered too. Choose the date that suits your trip; the confirmation email gives the start time. The venue's own rules on bags, photos and age apply on the night, and the seat guide on this site explains how the categories differ. Booking early is sensible: the venue says its prices follow demand and recommends booking as early as possible for the seat you want, and the booking page notes that the final price may vary by date and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak German to enjoy the Grand Show?
No. The venue says many international guests enjoy it without German, though about 60 percent of the songs and spoken passages are in German. English translations of the lyrics are on the venue's website.
How long is the Grand Show?
About two and a half hours, including an interval. Entry begins an hour before the show starts, and your confirmation shows the start time.
Is the Grand Show a musical?
No. It is a revue, with dance, music and acrobatics held together by a theme rather than a linear plot, according to the venue and Wikipedia.
Can children go to the Grand Show?
The booking page says the show is not suitable for children under 8. The venue recommends a minimum age of 8 and does not admit children under 6.
Can I choose my seat?
No. You choose a seating category when you book. The final ticket with your seat number arrives from the venue the day before the show.
Can I take photos during the show?
No. The venue does not allow photos, video or sound recording during the performance. It allows private photos and videos during the final applause only.
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