Shermin, Artistic Director of Maxim Gorki Theatre Berlin, is a trailblazer in German theatre. Born in Turkey and migrated to Germany as a child, she initiated and champions post-migrant theatre, reflecting Berlin’s diverse reality. Long before leading the Gorki, she was an integral part of a movement that brought artists of colour and marginalized voices to the forefront. Under her direction, the Gorki has become a radical venue, critically engaging issues surrounding trans local identities, histories and narratives. Her impact is recognised internationally. She has received numerous awards, including the KAIROS European culture prize for her work as a cultural mentor, Helga and Edzard Reuter Foundation honors for fostering international understanding, and the Bundesverdienstkreuz from German President Joachim Gauck for her cultural contributions.