Hanover
Back and forth about Marco Goecke: the choreographer is not allowed to return to the State Opera after the dog poo scandal
Marco Goecke lost his job at the Hanover State Opera after the dog excrement scandal
© Christophe Gateau / DPA
He had smeared an unwelcome critic with dog feces: Ballet choreographer Marco Goecke was then fired from the Hanover State Opera. Now he should first return, then the opera backed down.
After that, Goecke lost his job and the State Opera fired him without notice. Now the controversial choreographer should return. His ballet “A Wilde Story” – based on motifs by the British author Oscar Wilde – is on the program for the next season. Five performances are scheduled, the first on September 23. Within this framework, Goecke was supposed to work at the State Opera himself again – that was the plan at first.
Culture Minister called return “unacceptable”
As the State Opera announced, the 51-year-old was to rehearse the piece with the ballet ensemble as a guest choreographer. The house ban that was imposed on him after the dog excrement attack and his dismissal was lifted a few months ago.
Lower Saxony’s Culture Minister Falko Mohrs (SPD), however, had no understanding for Goecke’s rehabilitation. In an interview with the “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”, he called the State Opera’s decision “unacceptable”. Mohrs is also Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Lower Saxony State Theater.
Marco Goecke regrets dog excrement attack
A little later, the State Opera also backed down. Goecke should not participate in the rehearsals of his plays. State Opera director Laura Berman said that one sees the possibility of working with the former ballet director in the future – but now is “not the right time”.
Goecke himself was remorseful in an interview with the “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”: “What happened is tragic and also to be regretted.” He was “horrified and sad that with such an act I am now also part of the bad”. In the time before the journalist was attacked, he suffered from burnout.
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Sources: “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung” (1) / “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung” (2) / Hanover State Opera
An earlier version of this article stated that Marco Goecke was allowed to return to the Hanover State Opera. We have adjusted the text according to the new developments.