First program highlights for the 2026 Theater der Welt festival in Chemnitz have been announced. Included is an opera about the anti-apartheid activist and early champion of the lesbian and gay rights movement, Simon Nkoli, according to organizers.
The piece, developed by South African composer Philip Miller, is not a biographical portrait but a hybrid evening featuring musicians, singers, and dancers, “welcoming the audience to a grand ball, full of energy, joy of life, and with a clear political message.”
“Theater der Welt” is regarded as Germany’s largest festival for contemporary performing arts. It takes place every three years; most recently Frankfurt am Main and Offenbach hosted. From June 18 to July 5, Chemnitz will become a theater mecca. The artistic direction is led by nine curators from different countries. They select roughly 30 productions from all continents for the program, which will be unveiled in full on March 26.
Marcy Ellerton
