Augsburg's theater director André Bücker: Art meets history!

Augsburg's theater director André Bücker: Art meets history!

Rheinsberg, the historical jewel of Brandenburg, is currently enjoying a lot of attention. André Bücker, the theater director of the Augsburg State Theater, has staged the production of Mozart's opera “The Royal Shepherd” on the premises of theRheinsberg Castle Chamber Operabrought to the stage. The location has special significance as Frederick the Great lived there as crown prince, giving the performance a charming historical backdrop.

Bücker is not only enthusiastic about the opera itself, but also about supporting young talent. At the chamber opera, the focus is on young talent, which is by no means a given in the contemporary theater landscape. As Bücker reports, he also brings a breath of fresh air to the tradition with modern twists, such as manga comic cosplayers and electronic beats on stage.

Innovative productions with a wink

The Augsburg State Theater can look back on an extremely successful season, which was characterized by high capacity utilization and many sold-out performances. One of the highlights of this season was the open-air production “Evita”, which was particularly noticed in the context of populism. Bücker has shown a good hand here, as the response from the audience was consistently positive. He points out that the production highlights the playfulness of young singers, who often focus their talents on more than singing, resulting in fresh and innovative performances.

In the Augsburg Theater's recently completed interim venues during the renovation work, the audience was able to see for themselves the high quality of the performances that the theater offers even in these challenging times. Due to the diversity of venues in different parts of the city, the performances reach a wider audience than ever before, which for Bücker represents an opportunity for a future transformation of the theater.

A wide repertoire impresses the audience

The coming months promise a wealth of interesting productions. In addition to “The Royal Shepherd” in Rheinsberg, the State Theater will soon present “Il re pastore” from Mozart's premiere as part of the Easter Festival, complemented by many other works in the program. The production “Your work hates you because it doesn’t need you,” which premieres on February 22, 2025, is currently also inspiring.

The theater remains dynamic: a wide spectrum is offered, from the modern “expectation” of Arnold Schönberg to the classics of Monteverdi, such as the upcoming production “L’incoronazione di Poppea” in March 2026. A shining example of how the historical roots of theater can be interwoven with contemporary themes.

The theater also remains active beyond the stage, for example through the recently awarded Max Herrmann Dissertation Prize to Dr. Christina Vollmert-Boldt for her dissertation on civic festival culture with an exciting lecture. Such initiatives promote theater diversity and show that cultural life in and around Augsburg is firmly anchored.

Bücker's production in Rheinsberg is not only a homage to the great history of music, but also a step into a promising future. It remains to be seen how viewers will react to the innovative fusion of traditional and modern elements. However, one thing is certain: the theater in Augsburg is developing and remains a top-class cultural attraction for the region.

Those interested can find further information and the full program atandre-buecker.deortheaterhistorie.org.