On the death of Prof. Michael Börgerding

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As Theater Bremen announced yesterday, Prof. Michael Börgerding, artistic director of Theater Bremen since 2012, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday morning after a serious illness. He was 64 years old.

Michael Börgerding was born in Lohne in Lower Saxony and studied German language and literature, sociology and philosophy in Göttingen. He began his theater career at the Junges Theater Göttingen as a production dramaturge and director. In 1993, he moved to Schauspiel Hannover, and in 2000 he became head dramaturge at Hamburg's Thalia Theater.

In 2005, he was appointed the first director of the newly founded Theaterakademie and professor of drama directing at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama (HfMT). His central task was to bring together the directing courses for music and spoken theater with the acting, singing and opera singing courses under the umbrella of the HfMT and to bring them into an interdisciplinary dialogue.
During his tenure, the directing courses were restructured in terms of content and supplemented by so-called study projects, which are accompanied by renowned theater artists. He consolidated collaborations with the Thalia Theater, the Deutsches Schauspielhaus, Kampnagel and the Hamburg State Opera and, together with Ulrich Waller, initiated the annual "Kiezstürmer:innen" young talent format at the St. Pauli Theater.

With the introduction of the Bologna reform, he implemented the conversion of diploma courses to bachelor's and master's programs and launched the master's course in dramaturgy, which maintains a close connection to the directing courses and promotes artistic networks. Under the motto "Expanding the playing zones", Michael Börgerding has had a lasting impact on the profile of the Theaterakademie:
"To create free spaces in which acting, directing and dramaturgy students can think together about forms of acting and constantly reinvent them in new and different ways through research, in addition to the critically reflected and self-enlightened human performance methodologies that continue to be necessary..."

Many of his former students are now shaping the theater landscape in German-speaking countries and beyond - as artists, dramaturges and leading figures in major theaters. During his studies and often afterwards, Michael Börgerding was an intelligent, differentiated and empathetic discussion partner for them.

Elmar Lampson, then President and now Honorary President of the university, remembers:
"Michael Börgerding was an indispensable partner in the Presidential Board, who always looked beyond his area, thought along with us and played a key role in shaping the HfMT."

We were deeply shocked by the news of his sudden death. With great sympathy, we mourn with his family, his companions and the employees of Theater Bremen for the loss of an extraordinary person and theater maker. His tireless commitment, his artistic vision and his subtle humor have shaped the Theaterakademie and the Hochschule für Musik und Drama for many years. His loss leaves a huge gap - in the theater world and in our hearts.