Transitioning from Religious Spheres to Creative Endeavors
Kay Voges, the new artistic director of Cologne’s Schauspiel theater, has outlined ambitious plans to revitalize the institution and establish it as a cultural powerhouse. The British-born theater maestro, who has previously made Schauspiel Dortmund Theater of the Year multiple times, has emphasized a separation of cultural budget from maintenance costs, and plans to utilize Cologne’s well-established theater infrastructure, including modern venues like the refurbished Schauspielhaus and Mülheim’s Depot, as platforms for collaboration, particularly with internationally engaged theaters and artists.
While the sources do not explicitly detail Voges’s personal beliefs, his plans suggest a strong commitment towards artistic innovation, cultural openness, and expanding Cologne’s theatrical prominence. There is mention of fostering cooperation and leveraging networks for initiatives such as hosting the prestigious international “Theater der Welt” festival, which aligns with global engagement and artistic diversity.
Regarding specific plans for creating an antifascist sanctuary or media house, the provided materials do not mention these topics directly in connection with Kay Voges or the Schauspiel Köln. His focus appears more broadly on rejuvenating the institution, enhancing collaboration, and spotlighting Cologne’s theater scene through modern facilities and programming.
The new season book of Schauspiel has the abbreviation "SPL CLN". Voges’s first production, "Imagine", will continue the theme of theater, religion, and the internet age, with a weihrauch-gushed installation. Performances will also take place at the Kolumba Museum, near the renovation site.
Voges has a rich history in Cologne, having worked in a film production company in the city and fondly recalling pushing his two sons in a stroller along the Rhine. His journey to the theater world was not intentional; he began his career in a street theater mission group before stumbling upon his true passion.
Intriguingly, Voges’s past is marked by his association with the charismatic community, the "Jesus People", characterized by hippie influences, healing, baptism, and fire rituals, speaking in tongues, and ecstatic dancing. He even staged an eighteen-year-old break that would have been worthy of a theater stage at a "Jesus Birthday Party". However, Voges now identifies as an "atheist Protestant", having left the more radical Pentecostal community in 1986.
Voges can often be found in local establishments such as the "Storch" on Aachener Straße, the "Pegel", or the "Sternhagel". Recently, he moved to the Agnesviertel with a view of the cathedral spire. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a preacher, but it seems his destiny led him to the stage instead.
With Voges at the helm, Schauspiel Köln is poised for an exciting new chapter, promising a vibrant, inclusive space that embraces artistic innovation, cultural openness, and global collaboration.
[1] Theater heute [2] Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger [3] WDR [4] Die Welt
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