Living during the coronavirus pandemic, our bodies have become more vulnerable, our language more cautious, our approaches more tender. New encounters are rare - but that is exactly what we aim to try with the Tender Talks - conversations about closeness in times of distance. Every fortnight in February and March, the Schauspielhaus invites two individuals to engage in a dialogue on Zoom; where they get in touch with each other by speaking and thinking. Two guests meander their way through topics that move them - and perhaps touch something that also impacts us: how the way we deal with our bodies is changing in these times, how we experience intimacy differently, how tenderness could become a social motif and inspire a re-organisation of the political and private spheres through solidarity.

Tender Talk #1: Sibylle Berg & Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 11 Februar 2021, 8 p.m.

Tender Talk #2: Black Cracker & Laurie Penny, 25 February 2021, 8 p.m.

Tender Talk #3: Carolin Emcke & Vaginal Davis, 11 March 2021, 8 p.m.

Tender Talk #4: Annie Sprinkle/Beth Stephens & Mithu Sanyal, 25 March 2021, 8 p.m.

Tender Talk #5: Hans Unstern & Faraz Shariat, 8 April 2021, 8 p.m.

Tender Talk #6: Klaus Theweleit & Ted Gaier, 22 April 2021, 8 p.m.

Tender Talk No. 6: Ted Gaier & Hans Theweleit

In Tender Talk #6 treffen sich Ted Gaier & Hans Theweleit, zwei alte weisse Männer? Ohne diese beiden wird es mit der Neuen Zärtlichkeit nichts werden.

Report by William Stern at Schauspielhaus Journal

Tender Talk No. 5: Hans Unstern & Faraz Shariat

In Tender Talk #5 treffen zwei Künstler*innen aufeinander, deren politische Zärtlichkeit transformativen Sprengstoff in sich birgt: Hans Unstern und Faraz Shariat.

Report by Anta Helena Recke at Schauspielhaus Journal

Tender Talk No. 4: Annie Sprinkle, Beth Stephens & Mithu M. Sanyal

n Tender Talk #4 today, the artist and founder duo of Ecosex Movement, will meet their long-time friend and thinker in crime, the cultural scientist, journalist and author Mithu M.

Report by Talaya Schmid at Schauspielhaus Journal

Tender Talk No. 3: Carolin Emcke & Vaginal Davis

Discourse meets drag: Carolin Emcke meets Vaginal Davis! The two Berliners-by-choice met on intellectuality and intersexuality on the Tender Talk No. 3.

Report by Anne Waak at Schauspielhaus Journal

Tender Talk No. 2: Black Cracker & Laurie Penny

Feminism meets music: In Tender Talk No. 2, the American musician, poet Black Cracker talks with the British author and feminist Laurie Penny.

Report by Anna Rosenwasser at Schauspielhaus Journal

Tender Talk No. 1: Sibylle Berg & Dr. Ruth Westheimer

Dr. Berg meets Dr. Sex: Our friend and favourite author Sibylle Berg talks to Dr Ruth Westheimer, better known as "Dr Ruth", in the first Tender Talk.

Report by Nina Kunz at Schauspielhaus Journal