Commemorating Three Decades of KitKatClub: A Dirty Thirty Celebration

In the heart of Berlin, a unique creative hotspot has been thriving for three decades, attracting artists, DJs, and partygoers from all corners of the city. Founded by Simon Thaur and his partner Kirsten Krüger in 1994, the KitKatClub has become an integral part of the city's nightlife, transforming from a weekly event to a club open multiple nights a week.

The journey of the KitKatClub began at the Turbine club in Kreuzberg, with the first party drawing a modest crowd of just 25 people. Thaur, driven by his own curiosity and experimentation, invited everyone, anyone off the street, and handed out flyers to spread the word.

Thaur's past ventures included forming a commune in the 1980s, exploring the concept of "free love." However, his experimental commune did not last long, and it was not until he met Krüger that the idea for the KitKatClub truly took shape.

The club's name was inspired by the Berlin burlesque club featured in the musical Cabaret, and Thaur initially aimed for as much nudity as possible within its walls. To encourage this, he offered body paint to guests and even participated in sexual activities himself. However, the club's early days were more lenient, allowing patrons to wear street clothes.

As the KitKatClub evolved, it moved three times, first to Nollendorfplatz, then to a warehouse space in Tempelhof, and finally settling in its current location near the Heinrich-Heine-Straße U-Bahn station in Mitte. Today, the club sports multiple floors, a stage, a cocktail bar, and even a swimming pool, all bathed in a colorful neon glow.

Vigor Calma, an artist and painter, has been frequenting KitKat since 1995 and contributed blacklight paintings to the club. His work, with bright colors and UV paint, adds to the fantastical, otherworldly ambience of the club.

Over the years, the KitKatClub has become increasingly known for its openness and unique erotic ambiance, attracting more and more Berliners. It has also played host to a variety of events, including queer techno nights, bodypaint-meets-burlesque parties, and the Goddess Special, which celebrates divine femininity with only female DJs and performers.

Christopher Steinweg founded Symbiotikka, a techno-fetish event series, at KitKat in 2017, offering a platform for a younger audience interested in techno music. Gili Shani, a longtime club photographer, attends almost every weekend to capture the vibrant atmosphere, with a policy that every person who appears in a photo must give permission, and anyone in the background has their face blurred.

For Thaur, the KitKatClub is his second living room. He describes it as a place where everyone is welcome, a place where people can express themselves freely and without judgment. As the club celebrates its 30th anniversary, it continues to be a beacon of creativity and self-expression in Berlin's nightlife scene.