News from Göttingen: 18 exciting premieres for 2025/26!

News from Göttingen: 18 exciting premieres for 2025/26!

The Deutsches Theater Göttingen recently presented its schedule for the 2025/26 season, and there is a lot to report! On Thursday evening, the artistic directors Erich Sidler and the new artistic director Schirin Khodadadian were invited to the theater to present the upcoming highlights. Despite the uncomfortable weather, numerous guests came because there was great anticipation. Sidler particularly emphasized the “unusual constellation” of artistic responsibility, which is now distributed across four shoulders. The DT can build on good occupancy figures that are reminiscent of the pre-Corona era, which is a positive sign for the future, like that Göttingen Tageblatt explained.

A central theme that Khodadadian focused on remains democracy, complemented by questions about intergenerational coexistence and the value of family. The title of the game is “What are you doing?”, which will certainly stimulate exciting discussions. But not everything is in vain: the theater continues to struggle with delays in renovation and has to save 500,000 euros under city guidelines. This leads to the reduction of one production and premiere each in the large and small theaters, like that HNA reported.

The premieres in detail

The season begins on September 5, 2025 in the DT2 with “IKI.radikalmensch” by Kevin Rittberger and a day later “Everyone dies for themselves”, based on a novel by Hans Fallada, will be shown in the Big House. The DT has planned a total of 18 premieres, including the premiere of “Videobeweis” on September 28th, 2025 and the dark humor comedy “Doping” on April 24th, 2026. A special highlight will be the production “Colour Film” about Nina Hagen with its premiere on May 31st, 2026. Last but not least, the season ends with “Always Spring Awakening”, based on Wedekind’s classic. Popular revivals such as “Mephistopheles,” “Bucket List” and “The Great Gatsby” will also be on the program.

Financial challenges and cultural debates

Current debates surrounding cultural funding illustrate the tense conditions under which theaters like the Deutsches Theater Göttingen work. Loud Deutschlandfunk culture Although aid money is flowing, the crisis in the state-funded cultural sector is not new. It is being discussed whether the existing subsidy system for theaters and museums is still up to date. The voices for reform are becoming louder because the lasting effect of cultural policy funds is often questioned.

Artistic institutions are increasingly facing financial challenges and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. Tim Lilienthal, outgoing director of the Münchner Kammerspiele, emphasizes that the cultural institutions are making impressive efforts to compensate for loss of income. The debate about a new subsidy system could provide a breath of fresh air and provide important ideas for future cultural funding.

Ultimately, it remains to be hoped that the diversity and quality of theater can continue to thrive even in times of tight budgets, because culture is an important part of our community. With a committed team, new ideas and a lot of enthusiasm, the Deutsches Theater Göttingen is facing an exciting season.