People from over 180 countries live in Berlin, which is reflected in the city’s linguistic diversity. We want to do justice to this multilingualism at Lettrétage. In October, languages will be honored and celebrated in all their facets and differences. In addition to English, Spanish, German, and multilingual events, German sign language and body language will also have an important say. We are also counting on loud and committed voices from the Middle East to present their own perspectives, engage in dialogue, and celebrate poetry.
On Thursday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m., Liam Cagney will take us on a tour of Berlin’s legendary clubs in his book launch of BERGHAIN NIGHTS, sponsored by Berliner Magazine. The Irish writer, who explores the identity-forming significance of club culture, has been described by the Irish Times as the country’s “chronicler of nightclubs”. The book is a mixture of essays, memoirs, and interviews with big names in the scene. The evening will be moderated by Jonny Tiernan, DJ and editor-in-chief of “The Berliner”, Berlin’s leading culture magazine and Germany’s largest English-language magazine.
As part of the EUROPA IN SEPIA event on Wednesday, October 8, at 7:30 p.m., Dubravka Ugrešić’s eponymous collection of essays will be discussed. The Yugoslav-Croatian writer used wit and acumen to write against nationalist and sexist tendencies, which she experienced firsthand, and addressed the question of European utopias. She died in Amsterdam in 2023. The discussion will feature translator Marie Alpermann, Slavicist Angela Richter, and literary and cultural scholar and translator Henrike Schmidt. Admission is free and the event will be held in German.
On Friday, October 10, at 8 p.m., the performance The Erotic Album: Sound Poems from the Body invites you to connect with the lust, tenderness, and creative power of eroticism through poetry accompanied by live piano and electric guitar, a soundscape of body noises, visual art, and scents. Berlin Nocturnes is an artist duo consisting of multidisciplinary author Madhvi Ramani and sound artist, composer, and musician Lutz Gallmeister. Since 2022, they have been presenting their unique blend of sound art, text, and live music. Monika Kozub, also known as Berlin Boudoir, is a multidisciplinary artist and visual storyteller based in Berlin. Klio Maniati is a scent scientist who uses fragrances to capture her inner emotions.
On Sunday, October 12, at 12 noon, a conference and evening event will take place in German Sign Language (DGS) with interpretation into spoken German under the title “Language Art in the Deaf Community”. Five Deaf artists will meet on stage at Lettrétage to discuss the current state of literature in German Sign Language. The target audience is primarily Deaf people, but thanks to full interpretation into spoken German, hearing visitors can also participate.
On Monday, October 13, at 7 p.m., “Ich war Eva Diamant” (I Was Eva Diamant) will tell the moving story of Holocaust survivor Eva Szepesi, née Diamant. The book was conceived and produced in collaboration with author and illustrator Stephanie Lunkewitz. It is the story of a sheltered childhood, of initial exclusion during her school years, her escape from Hungary, the loss of her father, mother, and brother, and finally her deportation to the Auschwitz concentration camp. But it is also a story of love, friendship, and support. Stephanie Lunkewitz will present the book in conversation with Benno Herz (director of the Thomas Mann House, Los Angeles). The event is supported by Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e.V. Los Angeles & Berlin and will be held in German.
On Tuesday, October 14, at 7:30 p.m., we cordially invite you to a new edition of Kilmé Talks. This is a lecture series curated by Tyme Khleifi and Michael Barenboim, dedicated to Palestinian artists, intellectuals, and academics, offering them a platform to present their work and speak freely and openly about topics that are important to them.
The 29th edition of the independent project Probador de poesías on Thursday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. once again offers authors, language and sound artists an experimental space to explore different ways of performing their works. At the event, which is part of the Barrio/Bairro Festival, six artists—Stephanie Fernandes, Julián Galay, Lorena Izquierdo, Ginés Olivares, Mayara Stelmaschuk Melo, and Mauricio Takara—will recite their poems in their own unique ways. The evening will be moderated by Regina Riveros.
On Friday, October 17 at 8:30 p.m., the fall edition of Poetic Hafla will feature readings, dancing, and celebration. It will be a night full of performances by up-and-coming musicians, spoken word artists, dancers, and actors. The concept of Poetic Hafla (Arabic for “party”) was created in 2015 by two Mizrahi-Israeli artists, Mati Shemoelof and Barack Moyal. Since then, their regular events have become a platform for creative minds from the Middle East living in Berlin. The format lies somewhere between performance and party, with each event having its own character depending on who is presenting themselves and their work.
By Saturday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the latest, even the last summer lovers will have to admit: Autumn is here! How can we tell? The Herbstlese (Autumn Reading) event organized by the Autorenforum Berlin provides unmistakable proof with its mix of poetry, prose, and various narrative forms. Authors Christoph Baer, Ursula Breidbach, Rudi die Mello, Luise Pann, Daphne Plath, Felix Rode, Jessica Schmidt-Kurschat, Thimo von Stuckrad, Stephan Truninger, and Hubert Arno Walthers will be reading. The evening will be moderated by Maja Kersting and Adam Reichert, followed by Funk DJ Riko Roos spinning records at the after-dinner party. The event will be held in German.
The event “Mentira y dignidad: ¿Una novela alemana?” on Sunday, October 19, at 4:45 p.m. focuses on a German-language author who has been translated into Spanish for the first time. In “Die Würde des Lügens” (The Dignity of Lying), Joachim Zelter uses irony and absurdity to tell the story of a grandson and his grandmother, in which lying becomes a virtue and truth is merely a construct. The novel was translated by Claudia Isa Baricco, editor at the publishing house guacamayo san. In a performative reading, both will present the book in Spanish and German.
On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10, forcing many users to replace their devices. This will be costly for us—and the environment—as millions of functional devices will end up as electronic waste. That’s why the “End of 10” campaign is helping to upgrade old devices with open source software so that they can continue to be used. Join our free workshop with Joseph De Veaugh-Geiss (KDE.org) on Thursday, October 23, starting at 6:30 p.m., to learn how you can use free, open source software to breathe new life into your old laptop (PC or Mac!), save money, and reduce toxic electronic waste. Bring your curiosity and your questions—or even a laptop that you want to upcycle with GNU/Linux. The workshop is specifically designed for beginners; no technical knowledge is required!
On Saturday, October 25 at 8:00 p.m., the fourth FLINTA* Literature Night in the “GIRL, SHOW ME THAT BODY (OF WORK)” series will take on a poetic and political tone. The event is curated by Romanian author and journalist Ioana Cristina Casapu and aims to provide a public stage for established authors and previously undiscovered literary talents with migration experience from Berlin’s FLINTA* communities. This edition focuses on the relationship between feminist literature and democracy. Readings will be given by Tamar Raphael, Lili Khoury, and Ioana Cristina Casapu. Ambika Thompson from “The Reader Berlin” will moderate.
On Friday, October 31, at 7:30 p.m., Volker Kaminski will present his new novel “SCHÖNES leben” at Lettrétage. In it, 16-year-old Viktor finds a way out of his troubled home life through his passion for painting. Volker Kaminski publishes short stories, columns, reviews, and novels. Since 2014, he has also been a lecturer at Alice Salomon University in Berlin, where he teaches a master’s program in creative writing. The event will be moderated by writer Heidi von Plato and will be held in German.