Stephan Märki will not extend his contract as artistic director of the Staatstheater Cottbus. The 68-year-old gave personal reasons for his departure.
The Ministry of Culture and the cities of Cott Bus and Frankfurt (Oder) - which provide funding - set up a search committee for his successor. The theatre is the only state theatre in Brandenburg and the only one with four divisions - drama, music theatre, orchestra and ballet. It is the first multi-genre theatre to open in Germany since the 1980s.