Klaus Dörr quickly resigned as director of the Berliner Volksbühne after ten women publicly accused him of assault.
But will the system that makes such misconduct change just as quickly?
In 2018 there was a controversy over Ersan Mondtag's aggressive behavior during rehearsals for “Das Internat” in Dortmund, which was also invited to the Theatertreffen but could not be shown.
We talked to him about power relations in the theater, turn-ons, addictions and MeToo.
WORLD:
Directors usually start very early as interns or assistants.
How was that with you?
Ersan Mondtag: When
I was 19, I first sat in on Thomas Langhoff and then assisted.
And also with Claus Peymann and Frank Castorf.
The old school.
One was a fine gentleman, the other were really very egomaniacal.
And rough.
When I was 24 I went to the Falckenberg School in Munich, but only for a year and a half.
And then immediately received by the company.
WORLD:
How did you have to be a director back then?
Lunar day:
You were the great Zampano, this is how these old people showed us.
In the manner of a man.
I didn't know theater any other way.
I found some things borderline, but nobody questioned them.