Strong wind in Senftenberg: Intendant Ris leaves, theater with questions!

Strong wind in Senftenberg: Intendant Ris leaves, theater with questions!

In Senftenberg the new season begins this evening at the Neue Bühne, but there is a shadow over the event. Director Daniel Ris' contract will not be extended beyond 2027. This was decided by the special purpose association that is responsible for the theater and brought into play the lack of competence of the director. A step that not only surprised Ris.

Daniel Ris, who has been managing the Senftenberg Theater since 2022, has enlivened the stage with innovative actions and a broad program over the course of his tenure. Under his aegis, viewer numbers rose sharply: from 4,600 ticket sales in the 2018/2019 season, they climbed to over 12,190 in the current season. The Senftenberg residents appreciate the work of Ris, who is also the head of the association and has campaigned for issues such as diversity and social justice. Notable actions include participation in the Christopher Street Day in Cottbus as well as demos against the right at the Senftenberg market, and even diversity workshops were held at the opening of the season.

Tensions and uncertainties

Despite these successes, the cooperation between Ris and the sponsors, the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district and the city of Senftenberg, was, according to reports, tense. In a statement dated August 4, 2025, it was stated that Ris appears to be failing to meet the demands of his position. Some funding procedures affected by incorrect decisions could lead to imminent damage of 250,000 euros. This has led the sponsor to regularly take on central tasks in order to avoid legal consequences.

In addition, the uncertainty surrounding Ris' successor is putting a lot of strain on the artistic staff. With the impending decision to find a new artistic director, Ris must provide his team with a constructive transition by the end of August 2027, as he emphasized in a press release.

Reactions to the decision

The reasons for not extending Ris’ contract remain largely obscure. Neither District Administrator Siegurd Heinze nor Mayor Andreas Pfeiffer have commented publicly on the issue. Culture Minister Manja Schüle, who was not involved in the decision, also regrets the unexpected turn of events. The lack of clarity creates additional confusion and disappointment, both for Ris and the theater staff.

The upcoming evening celebrating the new season could be both a celebration of the theater and a bitter farewell for a visionary artistic director. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and what direction the theater will take under new management.

For further information on the developments reported rbb24 among other things about this case, while also nachtkritik.de prepared the backgrounds.