Barbara Gerland was born in 1963 and studied Drama, German Studies and History of Art in Cologne, Bochum and Berlin.

She was a member of the academic staff at the University of Fine Arts in Berlin, working as an acting coach. She also worked on a freelance basis for SFB and NDR. Since 2001, Barbara Gerland has been Editor/Literary Manager at Deutschlandradio Kultur. Back in 1998, she initiated Freispiel, Deutschlandradio’s own radio drama and features series.