How it all started

DER FABELHAFTE BREMER SCHLÜSSEL was created during the festival „SPOTLIGHT auf die Freien Darstellenden Künste in Bremen“ in 2018 by the theatre trio Prösler-Rau-Zängerle which was formed for exactly this reason. It is an event in honour of the city's most remarkable artists. In 2020, Nomena Struss joined the team which therefore became a quartet.

It is a glamorous cabaret-like award show for the long-time fruitful work of certain groups as well as theatre and dance artists from the Independent Performing Arts.  DER FABELHAFTE BREMER SCHLÜSSEL highlights the Independent Performing Arts in this city, makes their voice heard, visualises and honours them.

What's unique about this award: the awardees from last year decide who will next receive the award. A transient award! Those involved are responsible for passing on the award and thereby decide how things progress. This is a continuation of the principles of the Independent Performing Arts! Self-empowerment, responsibility and acting independently is at the heart of this work and must not be left out here either. Thus, we ensure  that this award is an award of the heart, an award of one heart to another, staying true to the individuality of our profession.

"The kick-off" – Awardees 2018

Nomena Struß (Acting)
LAFDK Bremen (Institution)
Alvaro Solar (Acting)
Silke Bollhorst (Acting)

Immo Wischhusen (Theatre music)
AMS!-Theater (Institution)
Studio 13 (Institution)
Claus Franke (Acting)

"Off to pastures new" – Awardees 2019

Anna Irmgard Jäger (Acting/Dance) 
Solidarpakt Kultur (Institution)
Benedikt Vermeer (Acting)
Tinka Klindtwort (Acting)
Sönke Busch (Writer)
Linnea George-Kupfer (Acting)
Mateng Pollkläsener (Acting)

Also, for reasons Claus Franke has had the award of the "fabelhaften Bremer Schlüssel" since 2018 but does not find anyone who could relieve him of this burden.

"Legends of Tomorrow" – Awardees 2020/21

Helge Tramsen
Kulturbeutel - Irgendwo (Institution)
Stefan Berthold
Wilde Bühne e.V. (Institution)
Die Raumstation-Bremen (Institution)
Renate Heitmann
Jenni Pergament

Also, for reasons Claus Franke has had the award of the "fabelhaften Bremer Schlüssel" since 2018 but does not find anyone who could relieve him of this burden.

"The Appreciation of independent performing artists in Bremen: a symphony" - Awardees 2022

Ulrike Knospe
Julia Klein
Franz Fendt
Jaap Slagmann
Hanna Markutzik
Show Kollektiv Bremen

In addition, Jonathan Prösler received the special prize Der Schloss for his participation in the project DER FABELHAFTE BREMER SCHLÜSSEL 2018-2021.