We have set ourselves the goal of using the resources of our theatre to foster and expand cultural education for young children in the mid to long term. The encounters take place at the Deutsche Oper Berlin or in the kindergarten.

Our Kita newsletter is published regularly and provides you with all the dates and additional current information about our performances and concerts, offers to join in and recommendations for performances on the main stage and in the Tischlerei.

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Composition by Sidney Corbett based on a text by Chiara Corbett

Six-year-old Elli is supposed to sleep alone for the first time. As soon as her mother leaves the room, the walls begin to breathe, the door handle starts talking, and then suddenly the octopus lady appears and kidnaps Elli's brother Hosche. Together with the singing goldfish, Mr Puddles, Elli embarks on an adventurous rescue mission and not only faces her fears, but even befriends the octopus lady in the end.

Sidney Corbett wrote an opera together with his daughter Chiara: she wrote the lyrics, he composed the music. It is based on a story that Chiara wrote when she was twelve years old and which has stayed with them both to this day.

Director Lara Yilmaz and her team bring THE OCTOPUS LADY to life in the Tischlerei of the Deutsche Oper Berlin – as a playful, sensual, sensitive exploration of fears and the unknown, creating musical theatre for everyone.

Duration: 1 hour

Kit presentations: 5, 7, 12, 13, 18, 20, 24 November 2025, at 10.30 a.m. in the Tischlerei

Tickets, dates, further information

Buy directly in the group booking form

We also offer preparatory or follow-up workshops on request at

jungedeutscheoper@deutscheoperberlin.de

Two musicians guide the children and their adult companions through the world of sound of the instruments they have brought with them: A voice, a double bass, a tuba, a trombone and whatever else can surprisingly become an instrument. These sounds can also be experienced physically.

Duration 30 - 40 minutes
Suitable for children from 3 years

26, 27, 28 March 2026, at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the Tischlerei

Tickets, dates, further info

In the third year of our TUKI Tandem partnership with the Westfälische Straße daycare centre in Berlin Wilmersdorf, the focus is on children between the ages of three and six. Alternating between watching and performing musical theatre, the nursery children are introduced to the performing arts in an age-appropriate manner.

As part of a TUKI cooperation, the nursery's educational staff work in creative teams with our musical theatre educator to implement the TUKI concept. From the very beginning, further training in musical theatre education for the nursery teachers also plays an important role.

Together we ask ourselves: How do we sound and how do the things around us sound? And who or what is this mysterious TIRILI? Two performers come to the nursery or play in the foyer of the Deutsche Oper Berlin and explore how sounds are created together with the children.

Cost per person €5 for performances in the foyer
Costs for daycare centres on request, bookable via the webshop

Dates for daycare centres on request at

jungedeutscheoper@deutscheoperberlin.de

Expedition TIRILI was supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

 

 

We can also come to your nursery

We travel light, without an elaborate stage set, because we perform on location, in day-care centres in Berlin and Brandenburg.

Requirements for bookings in Kitas in Berlin and the surrounding area. 

• The event is designed for an audience of up to 40 children.
• Large room, min. 30 m², length in one direction min. 8 m
• A clean, free playing area of at least 4 x 3 m that can be used as a stage
• At least 2 m distance between the stage area and the auditorium
• The performance space is available for set-up and preparation 45 minutes before the start of the performance
• In addition, another room will be made available as a dressing room for the musicians