Eigentlich immer Glück gehabt

Author: Manfred Karge Manfred Karge, born in 1938 in Brandenburg an der Havel, began his theater work in 1961 at the Berliner Ensemble, where he was brought by Helene Weigel from the Berlin School of Acting. There, he collaborated with Matthias Langhoff on his first directing projects. He also had his first major roles in film (Hitler Youth Wolzow in "The Adventures of Werner Holt," Hans Coppi in "KLK an PTX – The Red Chapel"). From 1968, he worked as an actor and director at the Volksbühne, starting his collaboration with Heiner Müller (premiere of "The Battle") and taking on significant roles (including Hamlet directed by Benno Besson). From 1977, he directed in Hamburg, Cologne, and especially in Bochum, where he premiered Thomas Brasch's "Dear Georg," in which he played the role of Georg, as well as Büchner's Woyzeck and Müller's Jason and Aaron. In 1982, Karge's first play "Jacke wie Hose" premiered with Lore Brunner. This and other plays have been performed in many countries, with "The Conquest of the South Pole" and "Jacke wie Hose" being adapted into films in England, the latter featuring Tilda Swinton. He has also directed in France, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands, and Japan. From 1986, Karge primarily acted and directed at the Vienna Burgtheater. From 1993, he led the directing institute of the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst "Ernst Busch" in Berlin for ten years. Since 2001, he has increasingly returned to work as an actor and director at the Berliner Ensemble. Since 2017, he has been a freelance director and playwright. Publications include "The Conquest of the South Pole. Seven Plays," "After the Practice of All Those Years. Songs, Poems, Stories," and together with Hermann Wündrich, "Storm the Heights of Culture. Contested DDR Theater.".