Addicted to the big show – Almost a year of colour at “Falling

Anyone who has ever seen a “Grand Show” in Friedrichstadt-Palast I will always go back. Every two years new ideas are implemented in magnificent images, and the show is currently halfway through “Fall in love”the current success story (runs until autumn 2025).

Creativity, technology, professionalism and lots of extravagance on the world's largest show stage with almost 3,000 square meters. Costume creations by popular designers (this time by Jean-Paul Gaultier and the Duo Feces with alien-inspired outfits), water fountains and flying acrobats. And then of course the “kickline” – the trademark of the palace. Here no one dances out of line, left – right, quarter turn. Precise as clockwork.

“Falling in Love” costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier (©Photo: Markus Nass)

The legs fly at exactly 90 or up to 160 degrees. Even the feathers on the headdress move in time as if choreographed. Wow! 30 dancers form the “kickline”, the signature number and the highlight of every show in the palace. But if you count them in “Falling – in Love”, you'll get 32 ​​pairs of legs. Since this season, two guys have also mixed in with the girls, slipping into high heels and taking on the challenge of this performance, which is one of the sweatiest minutes of the evening for the ballet.

“Falling in Love” costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier (©Photo: Markus Nass)

The fact that for the first time two genderfluid people in this typical women’s dance bastion “We are one” is another example of the philosophy of the famous revue theater: the entire house lives diversity. Everyone is welcome, everyone in their own way. People from 28 nations are gathered on and behind the stage. A large community that makes every evening an experience for the audience.

But “Falling – in Love” didn't just revolutionize the so-called girls series. This time, the main character “You” is deaf, a first in the dazzling show business. The loneliness of “You” is underlined by a single white feather that has been floating on the stage since the audience entered.

“Falling in Love” at the Friedrichstadtpalast (©Photo: Nady El-Tounsy)

It is a world of silence that only knows the colors red, blue and green. But we'll tell you: There is a happy ending, “You” is sung by the vocal soloists (lots of power: Olivier St. Louis and Laura Panzeri) and the ballet ensemble into a new life. And so, after careful first dance steps, “You” soon belongs to the world in which everything sparkles in countless shades of color.

The sponsor is Swarovski, who provided 100 million (!) crystals to create unforgettable images and turn the production into a show jewel. The 14 million budget is evident in every single scene. Everything here is of the finest quality. There is also the elegant foyer of the palace, with lots of velvet and chandeliers. And the 1,899 spectator seats have a new ventilation system – in the backrests!

“Falling – in Love” has so far delighted over 450,000 guests. The audience is addicted to an evening that blocks out their everyday lives and sends them home after 2.5 hours with lots of positive energy. The show starts off slowly this time and repeatedly takes the momentum away with too much dialogue in the first act, but it picks up the pace even more after the break.

Here come the Ukrainian acrobats from “White Gothic“, four model athletes with extreme acrobatic figures that are somehow out of this world or the wild, whirling trampoline jumpers in the “Garden of Love”, then follows – eagerly awaited – the “Kickline” – all dancers in sexy black catsuits and white gloves. This black and white scene (choreography: Alexandra Georgieva) Follow extra-colorful underwater creatures hanging from the 9-meter waterfall and emerging from the basin (which holds 160,000 liters). All around is a catwalk with balloon costumes.

Wow moments and a rush of colours increase until the grand finale with all 100 participants, where flower garlands grow from the ceiling. “Live it out” The big live band ensures that the stage and the audience become a party zone. Everything is set, everything

dances in a huge confetti shower. The more than 700 spots, LED spotlights and moving lights show what they are capable of with concentrated power. What a colorful showdown that began with just one white feather…

Gaby Hildenbrandt

“Falling in Love” final applause (©Photo: Gaby Hildenbrandt)

“Falling in Love” Kickline (©Photo: Nady El-Tounsy)

Fall in love

Grand Show until autumn 2025

Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin
Tickets: from 19.80 euros

Information/Tickets: www.palast.berlin

The palace on Friedrichstrasse ©Photo: Bernd Brundert

Further information:

www.palast.berlin

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