Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt

Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt (* 1955 in Düsseldorf ) is a German dramaturge . He is a professor of dramaturgy and practical theater work and an international consultant. From 1974 to 1979 he studied theater studies, art history and philosophy at the University of Cologne .

Life

Activities in the theater sector

Parallel to his studies, Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt worked from 1975 to 1978 as a dramaturgy and assistant director to Hansgünther Heyme at the Schauspiel Köln . In 1979 he was dramaturge at the Schauspiel Köln, from 1979 to 1985 at the Staatstheater Stuttgart . He then worked from 1985 to 1988 as chief dramaturge at the Schauspiel Essen and between 1990 and 2003 he was dramaturge and program designer in the direction of the Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen .

Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt also worked as a guest dramaturge in Berlin, Bochum, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Lausanne, Luxembourg, Madrid, Mannheim, Maribor, Tashkent, Tel Aviv, Timisoara and Zurich.

In addition to over 150 production dramaturgies at the theater, Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt also worked for film and television. Previous collaboration with the following directors: Hansgünther Heyme , Günter Krämer , Herbert König , Paul Schalich, Peter Eschberg , Peter Kühn, Inge Andersen, Lisa Nielebock , Brian Michaels , Achim Lenz and Jakob Arnold.

Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt was also significantly involved in the conception, dramaturgy and implementation of international theater projects at the Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen and the Schauspiel Essen , especially with drama schools: “Woyzek” with Łódź / Poland; "You are also very attractive when you are dead" (U) with Tel Aviv / Israel.

Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt has worked with authors such as Christoph Hein , Hans Magnus Enzensberger , Gaston Salvatore , Arnon Grünberg , Jochen Berg , Thomas Hürlimann , Thomas Harlan and the visual artist Wolf Vostell .

Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt designed and founded the critical theater youth club in Stuttgart and Essen.

Activities in higher education

In 1988 Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt was appointed professor for dramaturgy and practical theater work at the Folkwang University of the Arts (then Folkwang University). There he was Vice Dean in Faculty 3 (Performing Arts) from 1994 to 1996 and Vice Rector from 1996 to 2000. Since 2009 he has been Vice Rector for International Affairs and Events at the Folkwang University of the Arts.

In addition to his professorship at the Folkwang University of the Arts, Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt conducted seminars (including on behalf of the German Academic Exchange Service ) on topics such as German drama, ancient theater, Shakespeare, etc. B. in Cologne, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Tel Aviv, Milan, Athens, Delphi and Ramallah.

Hanns Dietrich Schmidt was a co-founder of the Folkwang Shakespeare Festival and was therefore significantly involved in the idea and conception. So far the following festivals have been held:

• 2001 in cooperation with the Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen: "Verlorene Liebesmüh" (involved: Folkwang, Seattle, Tashkent, Tel Aviv)
• 2004 in cooperation with the Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen: “Was ihr wollt” (involved: Amsterdam, Folkwang, New York)
• 2006 in cooperation with Schauspiel Essen: "Komödie der Irrungen" (involved: Brno, Folkwang, New York)
• 2008 in cooperation with Schauspiel Essen: "Der Sturm" (involved: Folkwang, Glasgow, New York)
• 2010 in cooperation with Schauspiel Essen: "Richard III." (Involved: Folkwang, Glasgow, Sibiu)
• 2011 Folkwang University of the Arts "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (involved: Folkwang, New York, Ramallah, Shanghai, Sibiu)
• 2013 Folkwang University of the Arts "Romeo and Juliet" (involved: Folkwang, Kraków, Ramallah, Shanghai, Sibiu)
• 2016 Folkwang University of the Arts "Much Ado About Nothing" (involved: Folkwang, Durban, Kraków, Melbourne)
• 2018 Folkwang University of the Arts "Taming the Shrewd" (involved: Folkwang, Durban, Helsinki, Ramallah)

One of his other theater projects was the production of Aristophanes ' Lysistrata (directed by Brian Michaels ) as part of the European Capital of Culture Pafos 2017.

Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt was also frequently asked to be a member of juries and selection committees.

Activities as a consultant

Since 2003 he has been involved in the application and conception of the European Capital of Culture "Essen for the Ruhr Area 2010". After Essen and the Ruhr area were nominated, he was Commissioner for International Relations in the Capital of Culture team from 2007 to 2011. Since 2011 he has been working as a consultant for European Capitals of Culture (Pafos2017 / Cyprus, Plovdiv 2019 / Bulgaria, Kaunas 2022 / Lithuania, Esch 2022 / Luxembourg, Veszprém 2023 / Hungary, Tartu 2024 / Estonia) and candidate cities for this title (Cluj 2020 / Romania, Kalamata 2021 / Greece, Herceg Novi / Montenegro 2021, Magdeburg 2025 / Germany, Nova Gorica 2025 / Slovenia).

Publications

Hanns-Dietrich Schmidt contributed to various publications: book editions about the history of the Ruhr Festival, Schiller's theater work, Daniel Casper von Lohenstein and the baroque drama. He also wrote articles for specialist books (drama guides), specialist magazines and newspapers.

Works (selection)

• Dramatization of the "Iliad des Homer" (Düsseldorf 1988, also as a script for Bayerischer Rundfunk) and the "Odyssey" (Bremen / Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen 1993)
• (New) version of all theater pieces by the baroque dramatist Daniel Casper von Lohenstein ("Epicharis" Cologne 1978; "Sophonisbe" Berliner Festwochen / Essen 1985; "Cleopatra" Essen 1986; "Ibrahim Bassa" / "Ibrahim Sultan" Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen / Luxembourg 2002; " Agrippina ")
• Concept, book, dramaturgy of "Sternstunde I" on the occasion of the 750th anniversary celebration at the Großer Stern Berlin in 1987
• Book, conception, dramaturgy of the project "Nathan an der Mauer" after Lessing, Berliner Festwochen 1987
• "Theatre! Job! Heyme - The actor, director and artistic director Hansgünther Heyme "

Web links

• Folkwang University of the Arts
• Folkwang Shakespeare Festival
• European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 (application as "Essen for the Ruhr Area 2010")