Berlin Theatre Performs Live Play on Facebook

Berlin's Maxim Gorki Theatre performed what appears to be the world's first live staging of a play on a social networking website, and in this case, Facebook. The play performed was Theodor Fontane's "Effi Briest", which was first published in 1894 in the form of a serial novel.

In order to "perform" the play on Facebook, a special group was formed which allowed "audience members" to register until the performance time - over 1000 people registered for the play. As part of the performance, the play's characters uploaded photos, updated their Facebook status, and posted information on walls to portray the story of Effi Briest. Audience participation was permitted and even encouraged, which allowed for a very interactive performance.

The same play also will be performed in its more traditional rendition at the actual Maxim Gorki theatre.