Hasko Weber brings new formats to the Cottbus State Theater

In the new 2025/2026 season, Staatstheater Cottbus wants to focus on togetherness and exchange, among other things. "The decisive factor for me is the 'we'," said the designated artistic director and opera director Hasko Weber. "I see this very specifically as a daily attempt to engage with one another."

17 plays from the fields of drama, music theater and ballet will premiere from September, as the theater announced. Several world premieres are also included. In addition to eight philharmonic concerts, the program also includes family and special concerts.

Weber will take over the management of the multi-genre theater for a transitional period of one year in the coming season. "This is a really challenging task for me," said the Dresden native at the presentation of the new repertoire. "I'm not coming here to hand something over, but to do something new and hand something over." Weber succeeds Stephan Märki. Berthold Schneider will take over as artistic director from the 2026/2027 season.

The drama department gets new director

Raban Witt will be the new drama director. "Der Hauptmann von Köpenick" based on Carl Zuckmayer, directed by Sebastian Hartmann, will kick off the drama department. "The special thing is the combination of this material with this director," said Witt. When you think of Hartmann, you think of visually powerful and excessive evenings of drama, but not first and foremost of comedies. "But he wants to take this comedy very seriously."

One of the premieres will be "The Most Beautiful Version" based on the novel by Ruth-Maria Thomas, an author from Cottbus. The play is about domestic violence and how the protagonist defends herself against it. In the opera "AscheMOND oder The Fairy Queen", the deaf dancer and actress Kassandra Wedel takes on the title role. Elements of sign language also characterize the part of the choir, it was said.

Home visits by the artistic director

Those who would like to talk to the new artistic director can literally bring him into their living room. He is happy to visit Cottbus residents in their homes, but also likes to visit associations or clubs that have nothing to do with theater, said Weber. There has already been a lot of feedback.

The TheaterCard 50 is also a new addition to the existing subscription offer. For 50 euros, all performances and concerts can be attended at half price for one year across all seasons.

The Cottbus theater, built in Art Nouveau style, is the only multi-genre theater (with music theater, philharmonic orchestra, drama and ballet) in Brandenburg. Advance ticket sales for the upcoming season begin on June 2.