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Berkeley Rep Theatre: A Season of Transformative Plays

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is bringing an array of evocative and thought-provoking plays that promise to engage, challenge, and inspire audiences in 2025. From intimate explorations of human emotions in 'The Thing About Jellyfish' to powerful historical narratives in 'Here There Are Blueberries', each production offers a unique journey through storytelling. Featuring celebrated actors like Hugh Bonneville in 'Uncle Vanya' and visionary writing from Jiehae Park in 'The Aves', audiences can expect a season rich in diverse themes and creative expression.

Feb 2, 2025

1. The Thing About Jellyfish

During the last week of summer vacation, 12-year-old Suzy Swanson learns that her best friend Franny has drowned. Desperate to make sense of Franny’s death, Suzy immerses herself in her own imagination, where she can circumnavigate the globe, plunge into the terrifying depths of the ocean, explore the collapsed stars of the most distant galaxies, and perhaps even solve the mysteries of the universe. Adapted from the best-selling novel, The Thing About Jellyfish is a visually stunning and deeply emotional coming-of-age tale about love, loss, friendship, and the profound expansiveness of the human spirit.

Jan 31 - Mar 9, 2025

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley, CA · Berkeley Repertory Theatre

2. Uncle Vanya

When the distinguished elderly owner of a rural estate returns with a new, young wife, chaos erupts. Tensions run high, marriages reach their limits, confessions — and vodka — flow freely, and weapons are drawn. Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) plays Uncle Vanya in this heartbreaking comedy about the eternal battle between futility and change.

Feb 14 - Mar 23, 2025

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley, CA · Berkeley Repertory Theatre

3. Here There Are Blueberries

In 2007, a mysterious album featuring Nazi-era photographs arrived at the desk of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist. As curators unraveled the shocking truth behind the images, the album soon made headlines and ignited a debate that reverberated far beyond the museum walls. Based on real events, Here There Are Blueberries tells the story of these historical photographs — what they reveal about the perpetrators of the Holocaust, and our own humanity.

Apr 5 - May 11, 2025

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley, CA · Berkeley Repertory Theatre

4. The Aves

In the summer, an old man and an old woman sit on a park bench, talk about the birds, and bet on the rain…but things aren’t as simple as they may seem. With humor, surrealism, and tenderness, the singular imagination and innovative style of acclaimed playwright Jiehae Park turn the ordinary into the extraordinary as the seasons shift, meditating on themes of human connection, memory, and growing older.

May 2 - Jun 8, 2025

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley, CA · Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Conclusion

Berkeley Repertory Theatre's 2025 season is a tapestry of stories that explore the breadth and depth of human experience. With a lineup that includes introspective journeys, historical reckonings, and whimsical meditations on life, the theatre invites audiences into a world where storytelling bridges gaps and fosters understanding. As the curtain rises on each production, the themes of love, loss, resilience, and humanity come alive, ensuring that every play is not just watched but felt deeply. This season reaffirms Berkeley Rep's place as a vital contributor to the arts and conversation.

2026 Artelize••