With Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy to the music of Uwe Dierksen and Michael Quast as the host.

Longing, escape, and the struggle for survival are just as relevant today as they were in Chaplin's time. The survival strategy of silent film heroes is timeless: anarchic comedy and liberating laughter.
Two silent film classics will be shown: The Immigrant with Charlie Chaplin, the comedy about an immigrant in New York, and Liberty with Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, a breathtaking escape story.
In the compositions of Uwe Dierksen (Ensemble Modern), classical cinema music meets modern sounds. Michael Quast, as the host, revives the spirit of the old music halls with their crazy programs.

Composition and Musical Direction: Uwe Dierksen
Drums: Yuka Ohta
Piano: Miharu Ogura
Trombone: Miguel Casas
Trumpet: Bill Forman
Double Bass: Peter Schlier
Host: Michael Quast

Duration: approx. 90 minutes without intermission

Supported by: Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain and Stiftung Giersch

Photo: © Andreas Malkmus

Doors open at 4:00 PM

Frankfurt – Geht´s auch anders?

How social change can succeed in a socially and ecologically just way!
Three-part lecture series with impulses for a sustainable transformation for the local elections in March

Social-ecological mentalities in the dispute over climate policy
Mon 2 February 2026, 19:00–21:00

Why has the mood in the population and politics recently turned so clearly against climate policy concerns – and what can be done about it?

· Prof. Dr. Dennis Eversberg, Goethe University Frankfurt

Admission free

Admission free.

Every Monday at 8 PM, the Stalburg Theater awaits you with an evening that is more than just entertainment. It is a meeting place for emotions, for shared experiences, for the moments that make you forget everyday life. Every Monday is different – but what remains is the feeling that you are exactly in the right place. Be there when Monday becomes the centerpiece of your week!

At least, that's what the colleague from AI writes when we asked her to write something about the new series "Der Montag in der Stalburg." We are impressed. How foolish our attempts were to formulate something as well:

We celebrate Monday because it has the courage to kick off the work week while everyone else shies away from responsibility. Most of all Friday, the cowardly pig. It foolishly dances the weekend in and reaps what others have sown. Quite different is Monday. Without it, there would be no Tuesday, no Wednesday, no Thursday, no Friday, no Saturday, and no Sunday. Ergo: Monday is the only day with cojones!

**Today:
Dancing on the Podil in Kyiv, the evening sky, the scent of drunken cherries and sour apples. We invite you to an evening of Ukrainian retro music.**
Cast:
Soprano - Violeta Samon
Soprano - Daria Tymoshenko
Piano - Valeria Maksymova

Doors open: 7:00 PM

A career marked by highs and lows brings absent on a grand "Katharsis" tour in 2026. The title says it all: "Katharsis" – an experience, a release that absent unfolds in his songs as well as on stage.

In recent years, absent has established himself in the German rap scene. With honesty, a distinctive voice, and a clear vision, he has built a fanbase that values authenticity and energy. Attendees can expect shows that connect emotions with precision. In addition to new songs, absent will also perform his tracks that have reached people early on.

Tickets are now available. Anyone wanting to experience absent should not miss this opportunity – The "Katharsis" tour takes everything to a new level.

Doors open: 7:00 PM

Long gone are the days when the topic of "Boy meets Girl" was considered a clever idea for a film or play. Just think of "Romeo and Juliet" or "Harry and Sally". That was then. Today, one must think further. Does Sally's faked orgasm fall into the "Me Too" category, because Harry pressured her into it? And then there's Shakespeare. With "Do young men love with eyes only?", he must have meant the "little despots", as Friedrich Merz called migrant sons. This needs to be addressed in a film or production!

In short: It's not easy being a director these days. Or a director? Or a director*? Or a director:in? Or a director_in? Okay. Let's go with director-person. Margarete and Heiner, the two actors, have an even harder time. They stand on our stage faced with a wealth of material on lovely themes like Gender Madness, Me Too, Feminism, Patriarchy, and even "Male and female street trees" - and are expected to turn it into a play.

Yet, it could be so simple - because all people are equal. Great. Then let's stick with Friedrich Schiller, and all people become brethren. Okay. But why not sisters? So, perhaps not that straightforward after all.

Doors open at 7:00 PM

Theatrical Play by Win Wells

The view of the writer Gertrude Stein is diverse: “Mother of Modernism,” “Mannish Woman,” “Inventor of Cubist Literature” – or even “lesbian icon”...

In 1903, she moves to Paris and gathers literary and artistic greats like Picasso, Matisse, and Hemingway around her. In 1907 she meets her future life partner, Alice B. Toklas – or, as Ernest Hemingway mockingly used to call her: “a companion.” Together they run perhaps the most important intellectual salon of the time: For 30 years, Gertrude Stein's apartment on Rue de Fleurus is the meeting point of the Parisian art elite. The two women remain together their whole lives.

The play GERTRUDE STEIN UND EINE BEGLEITPERSON, which was awarded Best Play at the Edinburgh Festival and the Sydney Theatre Festival, spans decades and mocks numerous figures from the world of the two women, from Gertrude's brother Leo, Hemingway, and Picasso to American reporters and German soldiers. The author Win Wells explores in the play a relationship that must have been a taboo in the first half of the 20th century and that led to numerous speculations even during the lives of the two women. He traces the story of the couple and their illustrious visitors in as unusual a way as their lifestyle itself was: (as) a journey through time, with foresight and hindsight, full of famous personalities, with official historical documents from a long-gone era and at the same time highly private insights into a life beyond social convention.

Direction & Performance: Anja Becker and Anna-Sophie Sattler
Technical Management: Frowin Reber
Set Design: Eric Lenke
Photography and Design Image: Andreas Kemler
Music: Erik Satie
Production: Ensemble noctenytor

Karimi meets Thomas Metzinger
Celebrity Talk
Tue, February 3, 2026, 7:00 PM–9:00 PM
What does it mean today to believe, to think, to hope?
Ahmad Milad Karimi speaks with inspiring personalities from religion, philosophy, politics, culture, and art. Direct. Profound. Surprising. A conversation series about what sustains us and what challenges us.

· Prof. Dr. Ahmad Milad Karimi, philosophy of religion, moderator
· Prof. Dr. Thomas Metzinger, philosopher and consciousness researcher, Mainz

Cooperation:
· hr2-kultur

9 €/ 7 €

Kulturbrücke Kino
Islamic and Christian-influenced cultures in conversation

Registration: hausamdom@bistumlimburg.de
Free admission

Moon
Tue 3rd February 2026, 18:30
Austria, 2024
Director: Kurdwin Ayub
Drama
With: Florentina Holzinger, Andria Tayeh, Celina Sarhan
93 minutes, Rated: from 16

A failed Austrian martial arts fighter accepts an offer from a Jordanian family to train their three daughters as a "personal trainer" in Amman. She wants to escape her precarious existence but ends up in a foreign and subtly threatening world. What begins as a social drama with bizarre comedy gradually shifts the premises into the realm of a thriller involving mafia entanglements and patriarchal violence. The drama, which plays with genre conventions, deliberately leads obvious expectations into emptiness.

Registration: hausamdom@bistumlimburg.de

CHRISTOPHER: A Beautiful Real Life Tour

The Danish pop star and actor is coming to Germany for three concerts in February.

In the life of Christopher Lund Nissen, many things are going perfectly. As a teenager, the Dane began covering songs and building connections in the music business. At the age of 19, he signed with EMI Denmark and made a direct entry into the Top 25 of the Danish charts with his debut single "Against the Odds" in 2011. The swift ascent of his career was evidenced not only by the debut album "Colours," released in 2012, which reached number 4 on the album charts in Denmark. In 2014, it was followed by the album "Told You So," before "Closer" in 2017 became the singer's first number 1 album. Reaching the top of the national charts, Christopher continued to build on his success with his unique voice and the song "My Blood" (2021). Now, Netflix has propelled him onto the international stage with the film "A Beautiful Life," along with the accompanying OST album, making his biggest dream of an international career as a touring singer and musician come true.

After years of hard work, Christopher began touring the world in 2023 and also fulfilled his second great life dream: having his own family. However, the glamorous and successful life of a musician portrayed in the film "A Beautiful Life" is only part of the truth and life reality of Christopher. Just before his breakthrough, he and his wife Cecilie Haugaard were expecting the birth of their second child. He leads a double life as a pop icon with a global career and as a father of a family that often sees little of him. The parallel existence brings sacrifices that foster inner conflicts. Suddenly, the singer finds himself at the peak of his musical career confronted with fundamental questions: Is his dream worth it? Is he making the right decisions? Can he let go of what he has fought for his whole life?

Shortly before Christopher's concert in Copenhagen's Royal Arena, he makes a decision to postpone his planned European tour to 2025 to focus on his health and family. The documentary follows him from his international breakthrough on his first world tour to the biggest show of his career, providing intimate insights into his tour and private life, portraying his fears, struggles, and doubts with unfiltered introspection. After deciding to take a well-deserved break for himself and his family, Christopher is now back to continue where he left off and celebrates the compatibility of his two dream worlds. Following the release of the documentary, the Danish pop star will come to Germany in February 2026 with his A Beautiful Real Life Tour, presenting his life's work so far to his fans in Frankfurt, Cologne, and Hamburg. As always, with the hope of touching and inspiring people on an emotional level with his songs. 

Doors: 19:00 Uhr

"Stefani Kunkel slips into this role so effortlessly and confidently that one believes everything about her! (Dorothee Dorschel Darmstädter Echo)

"Hilde is a whirlwind with great slapstick." (Most beautiful comment after a show)

Rumors have it that she will become "Germany's Next Top Kittel" and is in negotiations with a TV channel. What is certain, however, is that she has been live on stage for 20 years. How did she manage that? "Every woman needs a secret," says Hilde from Bornheim. And she offers a piece of bologna to anyone who asks about it, which she carries in her coat with a buttonhole. Perhaps that is what makes her successful. She met her husband Willi at one of these picnics, after all.
Many wonder what is behind, or under, the coat that Hilde from Bornheim always wears? Underneath is Stefani Kunkel, who has created one of her most successful stage characters with Hilde. And Kunkel has been wondering for a long time about Hilde's success. What does Hilde have that I don't?

For 20 years, Stefani Kunkel has been slipping into Hilde's coat and presenting her disarmingly comedic view of the world, which sometimes struggles with the pitfalls of punctuation, knows the suffering of depressive canaries, and even performs a Moon Walk on the dance floor in some moments.

In the anniversary show, in addition to Hilde, other characters from Kunkel's cosmos will also appear. The gracefully stumbling Christiane von Spangenberg will be among the well-wishers, as will the always gaffe-prone and cheerful Doris Bender. Both characters come from Kunkel's current solo program Im Winde verlebt. In addition, you can expect two wonderful surprise guests in the anniversary show.

Stefani Kunkel celebrates all of this in her anniversary program: 20 Years Hilde! Best of - The Anniversary Show.

Doors open at 7pm"

In the series "Forum Democracy in the Frankfurt Citizens' Salon," topics are debated that touch on the core of our free way of life and our liberal democracy. We invite you to a prudent discourse where the position of the other is respected, criticism and self-criticism are allowed, and the competition of ideas can unfold freely. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ackermann, sociologist and political scientist, director of the John Stuart Mill Institute in Bad Homburg and author of numerous books, invites clever minds from politics, science, and culture to engage in conversation, providing new impulses for our debates with their interventions.

The Western security order that emerged after World War II has collapsed. The transatlantic axis no longer functions, the USA is retreating from Europe. And the European continent and the EU are reconfiguring themselves in terms of defense policy in response to the threat from Russia and China. Where does Germany stand today in this new situation?

Prof. Dr. Andreas Rödder is a professor of history at the University of Mainz, co-founder of the think tank Republik 21 and author of numerous books, including "Who is Afraid of Germany? History of a European Problem" (S. Fischer, 2018), "Conservative 21.0: An Agenda for Germany" (C. H. Beck, 2019), "The Lost Peace. From the Fall of the Wall to the New East-West Conflict" (C. H. Beck, 2024).

Photo © Guido Werner

Photo: © Reclam Verlag

It’s going to be loud. And maybe a little wild too. Prof. Dr. Marcus S. Kleiner, media scientist, pop culture expert, and stage professional presents his new book "Keine Macht für Niemand – Pop und Politik in Deutschland" and, of course, provides musical examples.
Kleiner takes us on a journey through his research, tells stories of songs with messages, beats with history, and the question of how political pop music actually is – and has always been. Featuring Antilopen Gang, Akne Kid Joe, BAP, Blond, Wolf Biermann, Samy Deluxe, Fehlfarben, Fresh Familee, Fasia Jansen, Hans-A-Plast, Lin Jaldati, Cem Karaca, Kettcar, Muff Potter, Nashi44, Schrottgrenze, Slime, Tocotronic, Hannes Wader, ZSK, and many more. Entertaining, sharp-witted, profound, and with a punk aesthetic. A good reason to perk up your ears and immerse yourself in an exhilarating blend of performance, reading, and music. An evening with attitude, sound, and substance. And a lot of passion for what pop can do.

Doors open at 6:30 PM

How we make good decisions
Lecture, Discussion
Wed, February 4, 2026, 7:00 PM–9:00 PM

Every person must determine the right path for themselves. However, living in an unclear and fast-paced world does not make it easy to recognize this immediately. Jesuit Stefan Kiechle responds to the feeling of being overwhelmed: He presents the method of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1566), which can help us make good decisions.

· Dr. Stefan Kiechle SJ, Editor-in-Chief of "Voices of the Time"
9 € / 7 €

Conversation format "Fishbowl" afterwards

The event takes place as a hybrid event.

Wednesday 04.02.26 / 19.30 h
Bodo Kirchhoff: Nahaufnahmen einer Frau, die sich entfernt
Moderation: Christoph Schröder
Saal ticket 16 / 10 Euro / Streaming ticket 5 Euro / Streaming subscription 40 Euro

Once overlook oneself
Bodo Kirchhoff is one of the great German-speaking authors that Frankfurt can be associated with. With the novel "Infanta" (1990) he achieved his breakthrough, "Parlando", "Schundroman" or "Die Liebe in groben Zügen" solidified his unique position. For "Widerfahrnis" he received the Deutsche Buchpreis in 2016. Most recently, the public success "Seit er sein Leben mit einem Tier teilt" was published. Now follows the novel "Nahaufnahmen einer Frau, die sich entfernt" (dtv). In it, the acting couple faces the crucial question: Should they grow old together? The woman knows she must leave him. When he asks for one last chance, she only says: "What you can do for me to come back? Overlook yourself. Once in a lifetime." Whereupon he begins to write a novel, told from the perspective of his wife – their entire shared history. The Frankfurt premiere is moderated by the literary critic Christoph Schröder.

In cooperation with the Journal Frankfurt.

Photo: © Alexander Beck

Satirical Hesselbach readings with Jo van Nelsen - new episode

Jo van Nelsen's Hesselbach readings, consisting of a total of 12 episodes, have been a cult phenomenon in the Rhein-Main region since 2006 - now he presents a small sensation:

In 1967, the Hesselbach series came to an abrupt end on Hessischer Rundfunk, even though 3 screenplays were still available. They have disappeared in the HR archives - Jo van Nelsen, a cabaret artist from Frankfurt and Hesselbach expert, has now rediscovered 2 of them after years of research: With "Herr Hesselbach und die Entwicklungshilfe," Jo van Nelsen presents the first of the two in a reading version, in which he complements the screenplay dialogues with narrative parts in the style of Wolf Schmidt. What has resulted is an enjoyable and still highly relevant piece about German prejudices and xenophobia, featuring no less than 5 dialects and 5 foreign languages. Jo van Nelsen takes on this challenge and performs all roles - bringing this previously unseen film back to life in our minds. A must for all Hesselbach fans and those who wish to become one!

ENTFÄLLT
Segen gibt der Liebe Kraft
Book presentation with pastoral situations and examples for the DBK and ZdK paper "Segen gibt der Liebe Kraft"
Wed, February 4, 2026, 7:30 PM

For over a year, a working group has been developing a paper on the topic "Blessings for Couples in Love" as part of the Synodal Path, which was coordinated in April 2025 by the Joint Conference of DBK and ZdK. It is directly related to the declaration "Fiducia supplicans" issued by the Roman Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in December 2023, which has opened this pastoral opportunity from a universal church perspective as well.
The book "Segen gibt der Liebe Kraft," to be published in early 2026 by Aschendorff Publishing, describes over 20 pastoral situations in which different couples request a blessing and how pastors from Germany and the German-speaking countries shape it.

With the editors
· Stefan Diefenbach, Frankfurt
· Ulrich Hoffmann, Weißenhorn
· Michael Thurn,
Catholic City Church Frankfurt
Free entry

Event canceled

Written by:
Oscar Wilde

Directed by:
Max Webster

While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.

Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D. Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy.

*IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE*

The event has been postponed from 06.09.2025 to 05.02.2026.

BATOMAE & Band on the "10 Years – Unvergleichlich" Tour
Opener: Jana Crämer, The Girl from the Front Row
What started 10 years ago with "Here, take a look..." as the subject of an email to Batomae has grown into a real movement over the course of a decade. Back then, Jana Crämer confided her greatest secret to her best friend Batomae with those very words: the overwhelming feeling of never being good enough, never measuring up. His response was the song "Unvergleichlich" – a message that has touched countless hearts since then, and whose significance has long since grown far beyond their personal friendship.
Now, Batomae and his band are celebrating this extraordinary journey together with their fans on the anniversary tour "10 Years – Unvergleichlich" – with emotional songs, authentic stories, and moments to sing along, empathize, and gather memories. For Batomae, the stage is his home, and it is here that he invites his fans and friends, who have long since become a family.
As a special start, visitors can expect a unique warm-up: an exclusive, approximately 40-minute concert reading by Spiegel and BookTok bestselling author Jana Crämer together with Batomae. Previously unpublished text passages from Jana's new book – the highly anticipated sequel to her acclaimed debut novel "The Girl from the Front Row" – blend with selected songs by Batomae to create an emotional introduction that is gentle, intense, and above all, personal.
Immediately afterward, the stage belongs entirely to Batomae and his band, who will make this evening an absolute highlight. Those who have experienced Batomae live know exactly why his songs have struck at the heart for 10 years. With lyrics that feel like a hug and melodies that go straight under the skin, he manages to make themes like self-love, friendship, and courage not only singable but also palpable for each individual. Over 20 million streams, sold-out tours, and celebrated festival appearances impressively prove how many people find themselves in his music. Despite all these successes, Batomae remains authentically approachable on stage and creates an emotional connection with his audience that lasts far beyond the concert.
"10 Years – Unvergleichlich" is more than a title – it perfectly describes the magic of this evening: two friends whose paths have intertwined to inspire others, and a band that proves night after night that music can change lives. This tour celebrates friendship and the love for live music, but above all, it shows one thing: every story begins with a first sentence.

Doors open: 18:00