Concrete Playground

Why is it that so many new German plays are being performed in Australia? Obviously, it's because we share a border with Deutschland and speak a dialect of its language - oh wait, that's Austria. Tut mir leid.

So, having eliminated the easy answer, that still leaves the jolly, lederhosed elephant squatting in the corner of the theatre. Are there any parallels to be drawn between Australian and German culture, or do we even need to find similarities in order to enjoy another country's creative fruits?

Perhaps the answer can be found in the large numbers of German travellers who grace our beaches every year, or in the firm-chinned declaration by many an Australian that they "want to live in Berlin while it's still cool". Somehow, though I hang my head in shame to admit it, maybe ours is a love affair consummated in the throes of stein passion during Munich's Oktoberfest.

All stereotypes aside, if you are keen to uncover the solution to this mystery, book a ticket for the August 27th performance of Under Ice and you'll be able to attend the German Forum organised by the Griffin Theatre.