About This Role
This leadership role involves shaping the artistic vision and strategies for Theaterhaus Jena, a renowned municipal theater and independent production hub. The Artistic Director will lead and develop the ensemble, focusing on contemporary drama, innovative production methods, and socio-cultural engagement within the city. The position suits an experienced theater professional or team passionate about fostering emerging artists and engaging with the community.
Responsibilities
- Assemble, lead, and develop the ensemble
- Design the artistic concept and strategies
- Create and implement season schedules in collaboration with department heads and commercial management
- Select guest performances and artistic collaborations
- Promote employee development
- Acquire third-party funding
- Represent the theater internally and externally as Artistic Managing Director (appointed by the team)
- Jointly responsible with the Commercial Managing Director for financial and administrative security of artistic goals
- Make joint decisions with the Commercial Managing Director on all personnel, contract, budget, legal, strategy, and season schedule matters
Requirements
- Applications are exclusively accepted from teams of actively working theater professionals
Important Details
- Schedule: The new Artistic Director will start in the 2028/29 season
- Contract: Initially for four seasons, extendable to a maximum of seven seasons
- Team: Approximately 50 permanent colleagues in administration, technology, and art; maximum of eight permanent ensemble members; two rehearsal stages for parallel productions
- Application deadline: 15 December 2026
Application Process
- Submit applications digitally as a single PDF document
- Include a concise artistic concept (maximum five pages) for Theaterhaus Jena
- Add a brief overview of the artistic work of individual team members or the entire team
- Provide video material via links if applicable
- Indicate any confirmed performance dates for the current season
- The selection process will involve three rounds after application submission
- The new Artistic Director is expected to be appointed by summer 2027
About the Company
Theaterhaus Jena gGmbH has been a pioneering theater model for 35 years, firmly rooted as a municipal theater while also being a well-connected production site for the independent scene in German-speaking countries and internationally. It is organized as a non-profit limited liability company under private ownership, funded by the City of Jena and the Free State of Thuringia. Shareholders include current and former employees. The company focuses on exploring artistic production and expression, promoting contemporary drama, and developing modern working structures. It is also committed to socio-cultural work within the city and fostering emerging artists. A significant annual event is the large summer theater production in early July, which opens the JenaKultur-organized Kulturarena. Since its founding in 1991, engaging children and young people with theater has been a key component, with regular productions for and with them, and diverse participatory projects led by two permanent theater educators. The main venue is the stage house, which features variable grandstands allowing for different staging configurations. Other venues include the basement, rehearsal stage, painting studio, theater forecourt (sometimes with temporary containers), various city locations, and a fixed venue cooperation with Club Kassablanca. The company currently employs approximately 50 colleagues across administration, technology, and art.
