Farewell to Märki: Cottbus' Kultur-icon leaves the State Theater!

Farewell to Märki: Cottbus' Kultur-icon leaves the State Theater!

Cottbus, Deutschland - With a moving last performance n-tv on July 13, 2025 Farewell from the director Stephan Märki, who led the State Theater Cottbus for five years. From the 2020/2021 season, Märki was in office, but now he has not extended his expiring contract at his own request. The 70-year-old sees it as time to pass on the staff. His successor for the 2025/26 season will be Hasko Weber, while from summer 2026 Berthold Schneider will take over the management of the theater.

Märki, born in Bern in 1955 and grew up in Geneva and Basel, has had an impressive career in the theater landscape. Before his time in Cottbus, he was director of the Hans Otto Theater in Potsdam, director of general at the German National Theater in Weimar and director in Bern. These stations not only shaped his personality, but also his understanding of theater and culture, which he would now like to continue in Seoul, where he is planning "Tristan and Isolde" at the National Opera. The State Theater Cottbus remains a significant cultural anchor in Brandenburg, with a broad program, the opera, drama, concert and ballet.

The appreciation by the Minister of Culture

At the farewell performance, Minister of Culture Manja Schüle (SPD) was also present, which emphasized the nationwide relevance of the State Theater. This recognition is also reflected in the history of the house, which celebrated significant success under Märki's leadership. Märki was instrumental in continuing to establish the theater as a three -division house, which earned him a lot of respect in the industry.

The challenge of conducting a theater of this size can be easily classified in the current discourse on the system issues in the theater landscape. In a survey under director, to which the platform NachtIritik are reported The topics of participation and transparency just as central. Märki's leadership style and his decisions were important for many theater managers and formed the framework for a more open dialogue in the cultural company.

a look ahead

With the change at the top of the Cottbus State Theater, a new era is also heralded. HASKO Weber will have to get together the health insurers and, above all, the creative minds of the house in the next season and have to implement a lot of what Märki has initiated. The challenges are great: it is important to manage the variety of interests in the house and to address an audience that is constantly changing in the face of social upheavals.

Stephan Märki leaves a legacy that is shaped by creativity and tireless efforts for culture. The theater landscape can be excited to see which accents will set the new director.