Farewell to Heiki Ikkola: A new chapter in the Societaetstheater!

Farewell to Heiki Ikkola: A new chapter in the Societaetstheater!

There is a lot going on in Dresden, especially when it comes to the Societaetstheater. Heiki Ikkola, who has served as managing director and artistic director since May 1, 2020, will end his term in office in July 2025. The official farewell will take place on June 28, 2025 and will be a celebration for all theater lovers and friends of the performing arts. Under Ikkola's leadership, the circus theater festival in 2022 received great attention and brought a breath of fresh air to the theater landscape. The Societaetstheater's program also received new impetus through his ideas, with the Schaubudensommer being further developed in close collaboration with an association of the same name, as the city Dresden.de reports.

The 2025 Circus Theater Festival is just around the corner and promises a unique experience. From June 13th to 28th, the event will combine the art and culture of the circus in a colorful variety under the theme “Building Bridges”. Not only national artists are required here, but also international talent. Everything from young to old will be represented, with juggler Wes Peden and some of the best-known ensembles such as Overhead Project and the FahrAwaY circus performing on various stages around the city. The main locations will include the theater, the Dresdner Heide and the Alaunplatz. On the last day, the festival will conclude with the performance of the Cirque on Edge company and the construction of its own bridge on the Goldener Reiter, which symbolizes the transition to the new artistic direction that will take over after Ikkola.

Insights and perspectives

The circus theater festival is accompanied by an exciting side program. At the same time, interested citizens can take part in the lecture series, which deals with the festival theme “Borders” 35 years after German reunification. It is an expansion of the artistic discourse and a look back at the developments in the GDR and the changes during the transformation period. This lecture series starts on April 15th and covers various topics until October 2025. Among other things, artistic positions and cultural connections are examined and the effects of border politics on everyday life are discussed. Everyone is invited to attend these events in Lecture Hall 12 at the University of Leipzig, which always take place on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and offer free entry, as described in detail on bpb.de.

The cultural celebrations in Dresden underline the lively theater and art scene, which is enriched by the exchange and encounters between artists of different generations and nationalities. In these turbulent times it is particularly important to build bridges and support new artistic visions. With the handover of the artistic direction of the Societaetstheater and the upcoming festivals and lectures, it is clear that Dresden is on an exciting path in which different perspectives collide and new dialogues emerge.