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75 years of the Deutsches Theater Göttingen: A celebration of memories!
Göttingen celebrates 75 years of the German Theater: Anniversary event honors former directors and artistic future.
75 years of the Deutsches Theater Göttingen: A celebration of memories!
On September 15, 2025, it was that time again: The Deutsches Theater Göttingen celebrated its 75th birthday with a lively matinee, highlighting the last three quarters of a century. At the heart of the event was a tribute to the former director Heinz Hilpert, whose formative tenure from 1950 to 1966 made a significant contribution to the development of the theater. Hilpert, born Heinrich Otto Gustav Hilpert in Berlin in 1890, was not only a celebrated director, but also a passionate advocate of artistic freedom whose commitment to theater remained unshakable even in dark times. Wikipedia can report that he worked in Göttingen until 1966 and made the theater a center of cultural life in the young Federal Republic.
During the celebrations, the current director Erich Sidler not only highlighted the theater's progress, but also announced innovations for the employees. From 2027, the city council will take over the collective wage increases - a step that shows that the importance of the theater is also recognized by the city. In her welcoming speech, Göttingen's mayor Petra Broistedt emphasized the irreplaceable role of the theater in a functioning democracy and emphasized the special charisma of the historic building. The theater also received support from the district, which underlined its connection to the cultural scene.
Impressions from the matinee
The matinee offered a varied program and impressed the audience with atmospheric songs by Roger Whittaker, Ina Deter and Hildegard Knef, perfectly performed by Daniel bother and Lou von Gündell. These performances not only paid homage to Hilpert, but also recalled the great times of theater in Göttingen. In a staged reading, Florian Eppinger and his fellow players discussed Hilpert's controversial proximity to the National Socialists - a difficult but important chapter in his biography that reflects the complexity and controversy of his artistic work.
Theater education under Gabriele Michel-Frei has undergone impressive development in recent years. Collaborations with schools have increased from 5 to 50, which shows the theater's commitment to educating and supporting young talent. This commitment was not only honored by those present, but was also reflected in the long applause of the audience, who gifted the theater with their loyalty and enthusiasm.
On course for the future
There are further steps to secure the future of the theater. Claudia Schmitz from the German Theater Association suggested making a pact between sponsors, funding agencies and the theater management in order to ensure planning security. This initiative could form the basis for long-term stability and creative development of the German Theater.
There is also talk in politics about necessary renovation measures. Göttingen has already secured two million euros for urgent maintenance work, with a further nine million euros for the first renovation phase, supported by federal funds. This shows that the German Theater is not only an important cultural place, but also a valuable heritage that needs to be preserved.
While the snippets of history point to Hilpert's legacy, the tireless energy and innovative strength in the theater is also noticeable. The Deutsches Theater Göttingen therefore remains not only a place of remembrance, but also a creative space for the future that enchants people in Göttingen and beyond. The matinee was a celebratory moment that beautifully underlined the inextricable connection between the theater's past, present and future.