Berlin’s vibrant, if often precarious, arts scene is facing another challenge. The “Chilischoten,” reportedly the city’s smallest cabaret theater, is facing eviction after falling behind on rent. The venue, located in the Marzahn district, received an eviction notice from Degewo, a state-owned housing company, after accumulating six months of unpaid rent and a debt of €9,700.
The Chilischoten, founded by Martin Lalis and five friends, opened in December 2024 with the aim of bringing a fresh energy to the neighborhood. The 49-square-meter space boasts a miniature stage and 50 seats, and operates on a privately funded model. Lalis and his team were in the final stages of preparing their first ensemble program when the eviction notice arrived.
The challenges faced by the Chilischoten highlight a broader struggle for independent arts venues in Berlin. Initial difficulties included low attendance at performances, a lack of promised advertising support, and the mounting debt. A support association has now been formed, and the group is actively seeking donations in an effort to remain afloat.
Degewo, responding to inquiries, indicated awareness of the Chilischoten’s importance to the Marzahn community. A spokesperson stated that discussions with the theater’s management had taken place, but no viable solution was found. However, Degewo remains open to further dialogue if a “reliable and feasible solution” can be presented.
The fate of the Chilischoten now rests, in part, with its audience. The theater is currently running three performances per week, and full houses are crucial to clearing the debt and securing its future. Lalis, maintaining his characteristic humor, has adopted the motto: “Marzahn is, when you still laugh!”
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing housing and rental market challenges in Berlin. Recent years have seen significant debate and legal battles over rent control measures, as evidenced by the overturning of a landmark rent cap in 2020. That ruling, according to reporting from VICE, potentially requires up to 1.5 million Berlin renters to repay savings accumulated under the cap. The broader context, as highlighted in a report by European Business Review, is a growing distrust between tenants and landlords, fueled by complex regulations and a lack of transparency.
The Chilischoten’s predicament also echoes concerns raised in the past regarding evictions and displacement in Berlin, particularly in areas undergoing gentrification. A 2020 Reddit thread referenced the forceful eviction of squatters from Mainzer Strasse, illustrating a history of tension between authorities and alternative cultural spaces. While the Chilischoten operates as a legitimate, albeit struggling, business, the threat of eviction underscores the vulnerability of small arts organizations in a rapidly changing city.
The case of the Chilischoten serves as a microcosm of the larger pressures facing Berlin’s cultural landscape. The theater’s survival depends on a combination of community support, a potential compromise with Degewo, and a broader reckoning with the challenges of affordability and sustainability for independent arts venues in the German capital.
