Playing around on the radio

Recording a drama for the airwaves is exciting – even more so when it’s your own script Actors Darragh Kelly, Sarah O’Rourke, Ali White and Lloyd Cooney discuss a scene at Near FM recording studio. Photograph: Christine Madden “WHICH MICS are we...

International Women’s Day Berlin

Berlin’s new bank holiday gives birth to a revealing performance The Growler, aka artist Dee Mulrooney, appearing on stage in Berlin It’s not every day you get to watch a giant vulva reveal itself on stage to the lilting tones of Ave Maria sung sean-nós. It was...

Political earthquake in Bavaria

THE dust is far from settling over Sunday’s parliamentary election in Bavaria. The CSU, a behemoth of Bavarian – and a frequent irritation in Federal German – politics, lost the absolute majority they’ve more or less held for decades. They are...

“Threat of danger” – to democracy

On 15 May, the Bavarian parliament will vote on – and most likely pass – a controversial law giving the Bavarian police enhanced powers, despite vociferous opposition More than 30,000 people assembled on 10 May to protest against the revised Polizeiaufgabengesetz,...

From Bierfest to mass protest: a week in Munich

There’s more than one way to experience the rock-concert vibe in Munich. The past week demonstrates, whether for party or protest, how young and old come together in Bavaria’s capital in the spirit of Gemütlichkeit “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit!” Thousands...

There’s no place like home

Unique, well-loved Munich café Kaffee Espresso & Barista is shutting down – another casualty of gentrification My “office” is changing hands, and I’m as gutted as the premises will be when they close it down. Strictly speaking, it’s not actually a workplace, but a...