ETA Hoffmann Theater: Search for successor for director Broll-Pape – Bavaria

In the end, the result was clearer than expected. According to SZ information, only 16 out of 44 voters voted in a non-public meeting of the Bamberg city council on Wednesday evening to extend the contract of Sibylle Broll-Pape, the director of the ETA Hoffmann Theater, by two years to 2027. A result that was not foreseeable a few weeks ago was when there was still a majority for Broll-Pape. Then, however, various allegations against her became public, the mood changed – and the vote fell against the director.

“My team and I have done exceptional, regionally and nationally successful and award-winning theater over the past eight years. I therefore deeply regret the city council decision,” said Broll-Pape on Thursday morning, she did not want to answer any further questions.

Whereby such questions arise with a view to the future of the Bamberg theatre. First and foremost: what’s next? “Now we are concentrating on the next two seasons and look forward to continuing to show sophisticated, entertaining and socially relevant theater arts.” Broll-Pape also announced this. In other words, she fulfills her contract. Bamberg’s culture officer Ulrike Siebenhaar praised this decision: “I think it’s great,” she told the SZ. A resignation would have meant chaos at the house and the change in directorship for many actors and actors the loss of their jobs.

Broll-Pape said one more thing, and that was not surprising: she wanted a different decision. Strictly speaking, it was her wish to make up for two Corona seasons.

But why was this wish denied to her, after all she had only received the German Theater Publishers’ Prize with her house at the beginning of March? After ten years under one leadership, a change at the top of the theater is again artistically fruitful, the city said as justification.

Cultural officer Ulrike Siebenhaar regretted the decision. In the run-up to the vote, she personally received a lot of encouragement for the director, but also some criticism. Siebenhaar emphasized that the allegations of allegedly incorrect occupancy figures had been refuted. However, Broll-Pape was unable to dispel the allegations about dealing with the staff. Nevertheless, Siebenhaar, like the city council, acknowledged the merits of the artistic director: “Sibylle Broll-Pape set up the theater wonderfully,” she said. And found: “The theater has suffered in the debate over the past few weeks.”

The latter can be heard in unison from Bamberg. And the decision-makers are just as unanimous in one thing, which CSU city councilor Stefan Kuhn described as follows: “At least the fuss about our theater is finally over.” Whether this is really the case remains to be seen. Because in the nearly 80-strong workforce, conflicts have arisen that first need to be resolved. CSU city councilor Kuhn, who had spoken out in favor of extending Broll-Pape’s directorship, has meanwhile criticized SPD mayor Andreas Starke. “I find it extremely questionable how you can stay out of the debate and leave a head of department at the front so alone in the hail of gunfire,” said Kuhn. That “irritated” him.

In the city council meeting, objectivity had returned

At least in the city council meeting on Wednesday evening, those involved say that objectivity has returned. SPD city councilor Heinz Kuntke and his faction voted against extending Broll-Pape’s contract, but emphasized: “We didn’t follow the allegations that were made. That didn’t play any role for us.” Instead, the last extension had already been approved on the condition that 2025 was the end. “Ten years of directorship are enough for us.”

Broll-Pape still has two of them in Bamberg, and the program for the coming season is to be presented in a few weeks. For culture officer Ulrike Siebenhaar, the search for a successor, who must be determined by 2024, is now beginning. Already on Thursday she had the first talks, said Siebenhaar.

The theater now hopes to finally be able to focus on its core business again. Although the decision has not cleared up any allegations or resolved any conflicts, little by little everyday life should return. On Friday, for example, a play by Thornton Wilder will be performed. It is captioned, “We got away with it one more time.”

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