Storyteller Esther de Bruijn on stage at THE BEAR; Photo: Phillip Goelsdorf
THE BEAR | Show #110
“Fall air always smells like possibility.” — Albertalli & Silvera
Fall. The season, the stumble, the moment the ground disappears.
We fall in love. We fall apart. We fall flat on our faces in front of the people we most wanted to impress. We fall out with friends, fall from grace, fall for the wrong person or into the right job. And sometimes, as the leaves come down over Berlin, falling turns out to be the start of something.
This November, eight brave souls will take the stage with a true story about a fall. Names drawn at random from our legendary top hat. The story has to be true, has to be yours, and has to be new to the stage.
These 5-minute stories BEAR witness to the awkward, the inspiring, the heartbreaking, the hilarious, and everything in between. The kind of stories that remind us we’re not alone, especially on the nights we hit the ground.
At the end of the night, the audience votes for their Favorite Story, and the winner earns an invite to The Eve of the Champs, our annual storytellers’ showcase on June 24, 2027.
🐻 How It Works
Want to share a story? Put your name in the hat. We draw names randomly throughout the night.
New to storytelling? Don't worry, we love first-time voices and offer supportive coaching to help you shape your story. You can also check out our workshop to prepare your story for THE BEAR stage.
🎤 Want to tell a story?
Come early to put your name in the hat, or email us in advance if you'd like feedback before you hit the stage: 📩 hello@THEbEAR-storytelling.de
Because if you've got a story, we've got a stage. And after a summer apart, we're more curious than ever to hear yours.
🎟 Tickets & Community
TICKETS: €15–18, pay what feels right. Of every €15, around €3.50 goes to VAT and payment fees, so THE BEAR keeps about €11.50. That covers the venue and tech; everyone else is a volunteer. If you can choose €18, it truly helps.
📍 Event Details
DATE: Thursday, November 19, 2026, 7 pm
HOST: Izzy Ahrbeck
MUSIC: Rory C. Malone
VENUE: Theatre Pool, Boxhagener Straße 18, 3. Hinterhof, 10245 Berlin
Every show we invite our audience to share a story anonymously on a small slip of paper we hand out. Here it is in advance, so you can ponder it before you arrive.
Audience Question:
Tell us about a time you fell. For someone, for something, or flat on your face.
Your Show Host
IZZY AHRBECK
Show host Izzy Ahrbeck on stage at THE BEAR; photo Anastasija Ivanova
Izzy Ahrbeck is a dynamic community builder and award-winning storyteller, with a passion for connecting people and ideas. Her storytelling journey started early, from hosting radio shows to freelancing as a journalist and eventually pursuing a career in the film industry.
Driven by a desire for greater purpose, Izzy transitioned to the social impact sector, earning a master’s in Sustainable Business & Innovation. As the Head of Community at Impact Hub Berlin, she empowers startups and changemakers to collaborate for a better future, firmly believing that impactful change happens through collective action.
In addition to her community-building work, Izzy is a sought-after storytelling coach, working with clients such as Lufthansa Group, Samsung Germany, and the Fixing the Future festival to help individuals and organizations harness the power of their narratives.
Say Hello: On LinkedIn and at www.storytellingizzy.com.
Meet Your Musician
RORY C. MALONE
Rory C. Malone, musician at THE BEAR live storytelling show in Berlin.
Rory C. Malone joins us once again, this time with a new blend of keyboards, a small drum machine and his own sample library. He’s a man of few words and plenty of creative work, although he’s been promising us a story for two years now. Any time, Rory!
Contact: rorycmalone@gmail.com
Instagram: @rory_malone
THE BEAR presents is made possible by the generous performances of our storytellers, our team of volunteers, and the “Verein zur Förderung der Kunst des biographischen Geschichtenerzählens e.V.” .
Special thanks to our partners Berlin Erleben on Youtube and the public speaking training companies Moving Speaker, Female Speaking Berlin as well as UnMaking Boxes, Sales Chakra and Theatre Pool.
Stories connect us. Because we all have stories to tell.
Please support our mission to bring compassion into our communities through the Art of Autobiographical Storytelling.
We thank you for your generosity.
Verein zur Förderung der Kunst des biographischen Geschichtenerzählens e.V.
IBAN: DE25 8306 5408 0005 2236 28
Or you can buy the team some cups of coffee for those long nights… Thank you.