Mocha Hits and Milk Bar Dreams

After the great success of Gisela, Hit of the Trade Fair, director Axel Ranisch is once again reviving East Germany’s ‘light-hearted music theatre’ at the Komische Oper!

For twenty years, the variety show Ein Kessel Buntes (‘A Cauldron of Colours’) was a beloved television staple across East Germany. Broadcast on six Saturdays a year, it was both a cherished highlight and an unavoidable evening engagement for much of the populace. And not without reason! After all, it was the state broadcaster’s premier showcase, packed with stars and well-known figures from the worlds of art, culture, and entertainment. What made it even more special was its lineup, with acts not only from East Germany and other Eastern bloc countries, but also from the West, including West Germany. They regularly thrilled their audiences from stages in Berlin, Thuringia, and Saxony, accompanied by local ballet ensembles, choirs, and orchestras.