Driving down the Autobahn in a cramped minibus, surrounded by trees and tarmac, one could be forgiven for thinking Germany isn’t really all that different. However, from that first service station with it’s new language, good sausage, and a passing reference to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, it’s clear that Germany has it’s own personality - and Karlsruhe has a very big personality.

Firstly we can’t possibly begin to thank our hosts enough for their incredible and unrelenting hospitality during our visit; they not only welcomed us into their homes and into their theatres, but provided us with entertainment, transport, good food (not an easy task with our large casts), and most of all good company.

It was wonderful to see so much of Nottingham in the city and in die Käuze, from old photos in hallways to posters plastering the walls of the toilets. Even with only 300 years to its name, die Fächerstadt (the fan-shaped city) is a vibrant and important city, bursting with culture and theatres (and good beer), and proud of its achievements (such as its Centre for Art and Media, and the two highest courts in Germany), and its twinnings with cities across the globe.

On our first night in Karlsruhe we were treated to a performance of Der Fächer at die Käuze (the show we would be replacing). With only a rudimentary grasp of German it’s hard to follow a conversation, let alone follow a play, but it was a testament to the actors and an informative lesson in acting to discover just how much of a story, characters, relationships, and jokes, can be picked up purely from body language and tone of voice. It was at the end of this show that we poor English actors were treated to the experience of how a German audience rewards the hard work of the actors, with four or five curtain calls before the applause began to fade - suffice it to say this threw us all off on the first night when we were faced with going back for a second or third bow! We were also lucky to catch a production of Hamlet on the Thursday night, complete with bouncy castle, Bohemian Rhapsody, and side-splitting laughter - I strongly recommend finding out more about that production. The week rounded off with a day trip to a museum (Dr Faustus no less), a monastery (with some fine wines), and a lively party to celebrate an incredible week.

In a summary which cannot do the experience justice: the week was busy and bursting with life and energy. We have all made new friendships, found new experiences, and simply had an incredible time. I look forward not only to our future exchanges but to the time between them, as it is vital that we continue to celebrate this friendship between our cities, our theatres, and our peoples.