Farewell to Carl Hegemann: One last festival on the Volksbühne

Farewell to Carl Hegemann: One last festival on the Volksbühne

On July 1, 2025, a farewell party took place at the Volksbühne in Berlin in honor of the long -standing dramaturge Carl Hegemann, who died on May 9, 2023 at the age of 76. Hegemann significantly shaped the theater on the Volksbühne from the 1990s until his resignation in 2017. The festival, which was organized on June 22, 2025, offered a mixture of music, readings and personal memories of one of the most important theater makers of that time. RBB24 reports that the event included free ice cream and actress Katrin Angerer las from a manifest text by Hegemann, which was longing for the longing for totalitarian order Themized.

Hegemann was known for his philosophical insights and asked fundamental questions about the norms of the theater by emphasizing the need for mistakes in the artistic process. His ability to interweave complex topics with pop culture also made him a striking figure in the German theater. During the celebrations, prominent artists such as Igor Levit and Alexander Scheer performed, and an oldie choir from the Union Berlin praised Hegemann's love for football. Hegemann's quotes, such as "saves the market economy, throws the money away!" And "The theater does not ask about death or immortality. It asks about life." Touched and reflected his deep characteristics.

A turning point at the Volksbühne

The event took place against the background of a comprehensive change at the Volksbühne, which had developed over 25 years under the directorate of Frank Castorf. Castorf's approach was known as radical and innovative and culminated in a seven-hour "Faust" staging, followed by Dostojewski's "a weak heart". With the move to Chris Dercon, who is planning international events without a fixed ensemble, the question arises of the artistic identity of the theater in the future. [Kreiszeitung] (https://www.kreiszeitung.de/kultur/schwer- Environmental-8517326.html) indicates that Hegemann warned of his concerns about Dercons Vision to ignore the basic conflicts that make up the theater.

Hegemann, who recently completed a guest appearance with Castorf's ensemble in Avignon, emphasized the need for an experienced and independent team for complex productions. He was convinced that Castorf's theater work was at a creative highlight and that the focus on harmony and consensus was not in the spirit of the theater. The farewell as part of the transitional period illuminates the multi -layered challenges with which the Volksbühne and the theater themselves are confronted.

The evolution of the theater

The theater has a long history that goes back to antiquity, where it played a central role in society and treated topics such as social and political grievances. Greek tragedies and comedies that were performed in the Theater of Dionysos in Athens shaped the theater operation for centuries. Over the centuries, the theater experienced many changes, from censorship in the Middle Ages to revival during the Renaissance through personalities such as William Shakespeare. nadr describes how the 20th century through the avant-garde and the later influence of digital technologies enabled new forms of expression and immersive experiences.

The challenges and opportunities of the modern theater are diverse, including maintaining the traditional live experience in an increasingly digital world. Hegemann's legacy and the current changes in the Volksbühne give the discussion about the future of the theater an important dimension, while artists and audiences are still looking for meaningful cultural experiences.