What do theatre and journalism have in common? Getting to grips with subjects, probing research, hoping to discover things: Lidia Polito was born in Italy and grew up in Munich and studied subjects including Media and Cultural Studies and Journalism. She has worked as a freelance journalist for outlets including Deutschlandfunk Nova and Vice and since 2021 has produced her own podcast, “Provisorisch legal”, where she talks with a range of guests about issues around drugs, substance research, highs, addiction and legalisation. In the 2023/24 season, Lidia Polito swapped journalism for rehearsals and the world of the theatre, joining Schauspiel Köln as an Assistant Director. She devised and directed the monologue “Der möblierte Mensch” and in May 2025 she staged “Dosenfleisch” by Ferdinand Schmalz in the Grotte. From the 25/26 season she will change roles to become Assistant Dramaturg.