About this event
A theatrical song evening based on the cult film by Wolfgang Kohlhaase and Konrad Wolf in a version by Judith Zieprig
Following a successful sold-out premiere and second performance, our Sunny 2.0 is now ready to show herself to the world. Caroline Siebert brings the character of Sunny back to life with every fiber of her being. At her side is performance and singing partner Johannes Kirchberg, who effortlessly slips into the male roles on screen and live on stage, playing virtuosically at the piano while also standing out with his vocals. In a one-woman performance, Caro Siebert navigates through this timeless story of the young artist Sunny, who fights for her art, love, and recognition. Our SOLO SUNNY comes to the stage in a new version and production, but also with plenty of new-old music. Alongside the well-known tracks from Günther Fischer’s soundtrack, it is the GDR hits from the Hansi Biebl Band, as well as songs by Silly, Uschi Brüning, the Modern Soul Band, Veronika Fischer, and Manfred Krug, that make this evening so special. Caroline Siebert effortlessly dives into the unmistakable melancholy of the recently deceased Marianne Faithful, only to then show that pop stars like Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears also struggled with the “great” burden of success, and that Sunny's statement
WOULDN'T ONE STILL NEED A PERSONALITY EVEN IF ONE IS NOT FAMOUS?is still highly relevant today. But how exactly was it with Sunny again? How did it all begin?
When Konrad Wolf and Wolfgang Kohlhaase’s SOLO SUNNY won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale in 1980, the film was on everyone's lips, not just among GDR citizens. Today, the story of the protagonist Sunny is one of the most well-known works in German film history. Late 70s: Sunny is touring with her band, the "Tornados," through the villages of the GDR, performing in cultural centers and dance halls. In the eyes of others, she has “made it.” The reality on the stages of the provincial backwaters looks rather bleak: nightly booziness, old-hat songs, dusty pop hits, and the same old show routines... Sunny dreams of more. She tries her hand at new music and a new man. Ralph is a philosopher, a hobby musician, and Sunny is totally infatuated with him. But the strong-willed Sunny is too much for the
unfaithful Ralph, and her journey with the "Tornados" also comes to an end. Sunny's dreams crumble like the facades of the Prenzlauer Berg back buildings where Konrad Wolf set his film. She hits rock bottom. And pulls herself back up shortly after...
What kind of “cranks” would Sunny have to deal with today? Director Judith Zieprig, actress Caroline Siebert, and musician and performer Johannes Kirchberg have reconstructed the story and approached the character in a careful manner. In collaboration with film composer Günther Fischer, a contemporary “sound” was found. The play also celebrates Günther Fischer’s 80th birthday from last year and the 100th birthday of Konrad Wolf in 2025. Do not miss this special theater experience and our “new Sunny.”
