Director and professor Amélie Niermeyer will become the new president of the Bavarian Theatre Academy August Everding in Munich. The 60-year-old will take over the leadership of the institution on October 1, 2026, as announced by Bavaria's Minister of Arts, Markus Blume (CSU), on Tuesday. Niermeyer succeeds Barbara Gronau, whose contract was terminated by the ministry in April 2025.

Amélie Niermeyer and Markus Blume

Blume stated that Niermeyer, a native of Bonn, is one of the most influential figures in the theater world of our time. "She stands for a theater with conviction, for artistic curiosity, and for the power of the stage to spark social debate." With her appointment, the largest training institution for stage professions in the German-speaking world gains a president with international appeal, extensive leadership experience, and a clear vision for the artists of tomorrow.

Niermeyer worked for decades at major theaters and opera houses. At the Bavarian State Theater alone, she directed regularly for more than 20 years. Her other artistic engagements include the Bavarian State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and the Stuttgart State Theater. As artistic director, she led, among others, the Freiburg Theater and the Düsseldorf Playhouse. Since 2011, she has headed the Thomas Bernhard Institute for Acting, Directing, and Applied Theatre at the Mozarteum University Salzburg.

At the Theatre Academy, Niermeyer aims to develop new formats at the intersection of theatre, music, and digital media. She also intends to further deepen collaborations with Munich's theatres and strengthen the institution's international network. The academy should be a place where bold experimentation takes place and young artists learn to engage with their art, the president-elect described her vision for the future of theatre education.

The Theatre Academy was founded in 1993 by the Free State of Bavaria. With eight degree programs, including musical theatre/opera singing, it is considered the largest training institution for stage professions in the German-speaking world.

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