Dubliner Caroline Staunton moved to Germany 15 years ago and now works for the Berlin State Opera
Caroline Staunton. Photo: Frances Marshall
“I’ve been in Germany now for a total of 15 years, which is bonkers. I couldn’t even speak German when I came over. I studied English and philosophy in college, but I was massively interested in theatre. I did a master’s in modern theatre studies because I wanted to work in theatre, but that’s really hard to break into in Ireland.
So I became a teacher, and I was good at it, and I loved it. But then, before I knew it, about eight years had gone by, and I suddenly had this panic in my stomach, because I realised one day I’d wake up, I’d be 50, and still teaching.