Heiki Ikkola leaves the Societaetstheater: A farewell full of emotions!

Heiki Ikkola leaves the Societaetstheater: A farewell full of emotions!

A lot is happening in Dresden! Heiki Ikkola, the creative mind behind the Societaetstheater, will end his term as managing director and artistic director in July 2025. This represents not only a change in theater management, but also an important period in the history of the theater, which has been under Ikkola's leadership since May 2020. On June 28, 2025, the artistic director, who has had a lasting impact on the Societaetstheater's program, will officially say goodbye. He will particularly remember the Circus Theater Festival 2022, which became a highlight in the cultural scene and is particularly celebrated this year.

The circus theater festival will take place in Dresden from June 13th to 28th, 2025, and it will be exciting! This year's motto is “Building Bridges” and includes not only physical bridges, but also the exchange and encounter between cultures. The festival combines the artistic diversity of the circus with different nationalities and generations. The event is held in cooperation with the Dresden Music Festival and promises a mixture of music and artistic performances.

The festival program

Festival visitors can look forward to a diverse program that includes, among other things, performances by the talented juggler Wes Peden and well-known ensembles such as Overhead Project, Compagnien Raum 305 and Zirkus FahrAwaY. The events take place at various locations, including the theater, the Dresdner Heide and the Alaunplatz, as well as in the circus tent in the Alaunpark. The finale will take place on June 28th with the Cirque on Edge company, which will not only put on a spectacular performance, but also build its own bridge on the Golden Rider. At the same time, the handover to the new management of the Societaetstheater is celebrated here.

Cultural reflection

As part of the diverse cultural activities in Dresden, the lecture series “Borders, Upheavals, Transformations” will also be continued at the University of Leipzig. The lecture series, which deals with the festival theme “Borders” 35 years after reunification, addresses the interconnections between cultures and arts in the GDR as well as the political upheavals of the transformation period. The organizers cordially invite anyone interested to take part in the exchange about contemporary artistic practices.

Visitors can look forward to a total of 14 lectures, which take place every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free, and the topics range from “The Future of Remembering” to “Disrupting Order. About Artistic Resistance.” This draws a line from history to the present, which enriches the cultural landscape in Saxony and stimulates thought.

Overall, Dresden shows itself to be a place of cultural diversity and creative exchange - especially during the time of Ikkola's farewell and the visit to this year's festival. It remains exciting to see what new impulses the upcoming management of the Societaetstheater will provide. If you want to immerse yourself in it, we recommend the circus theater festival!