Berlin/Wall at the Public Theater

The Public Theater will present, Berlin/Wall, two contrasting solo monologues written and performed by David Hare, for five performances only, from 14 - 17 May 2009.

In Berlin/Wall, Hare visits a place where a famous wall has come down; then another where the wall is going up. Tickets for this limited engagement go on-sale from 17 Apr 2009.

Berlin premiered at London�s National Theatre in February 2009 and Wall premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in March 2009.

�David Hare has been making theater about our world�s great social issues for over thirty years,� said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. �These two penetrating and surprising monologues are characterized by his acute insight, tremendous charm, and his profound sense of humanity. We are delighted to welcome David back to The Public, and honored to have Stephen Daldry make his Public Theater debut.�

Berlin: For his whole adult life, David Hare has been visiting the city which so many young people regard as the most exciting in Europe. But there�s something in Berlin�s elusive character that makes him feel he�s always missing the point. Now, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall, he reads a 55-minute meditation about Germany�s restored capital � both what it represents in European history, and the peculiar part it has played in his own life.

Wall: The Israeli/Palestine security fence will one day stretch 486 miles, from one end of Israel to the other. It will be four times as long as the Berlin wall, and in places twice as high. In this second monologue, Hare offers a history of the wall�s building, an exploration of the philosophy behind it and a personal account of those who live on either side.

Berlin/Wall will feature lighting design by Rick Fisher.

David Hare;s (Playwright/Performer) relationship with the Public Theater goes back to Joe Papp�s production of his very first play 'Slag' in 1971. Most recently, his play about the diplomatic process leading up to the Iraq war, 'Stuff Happens,' was presented by the Public in the Newman Theater in 2006 and for one night only at the Delacorte in Central Park. He has had 10 of his plays presented on Broadway, including the Public Theater production of 'Plenty' (1983) with Kate Nelligan (which he directed and which was subsequently filmed with Meryl Streep an). He has been nominaed for three Tony Awards: 'Plenty' (1983), 'Racing Demon' (1995) and 'Skylight' (1996).

Stephen Daldry's (Director) theatrical directing credits include 'Billy Elliot the Musical' (currently on Broadway, in London, and in Sydney). His first feature film,' Billy Elliot,' won more than 40 awards worldwide and received three Oscar nominations, including Best Director. His second feature, 'The Hours,' also won innumerable international awards, including Best Picture at the Golden Globes, and received nine Oscar and 11 BAFTA nominations.