Theresa Steinacker

Theresa Steinacker studied musicology, Slavic studies and Jewish studies at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg and the University of Basel. Whilst studying, she undertook work placements at the Freiburg Theatre and the Deutsche Oper Berlin. After completing her Master’s degree, she worked as a research assistant at the Department of Musicology at the University of Basel, and subsequently as an assistant to the director at the Institute for Music Theatre at the Freiburg University of Music. She also worked for several years as an assistant in the dramaturgy department of the Salzburg Festival and as a freelance dramaturg for, amongst others, the Basel Sinfonietta and the SWR Symphony Orchestra.

In the 2018–19 season, she joined the Freiburg Theatre as a dramaturg specialising in concerts. From 2019 to 2023, she was employed as a music theatre dramaturg at the Staatstheater Braunschweig, followed by three seasons in the same role at the Staatstheater Mainz. She has worked with directors such as Rahel Thiel, Verena Stoiber, Markus Bothe and Dagmar Schlingmann. She has a close working relationship with Dirk Schmeding, with whom she staged ‘Rusalka’ and Lehár’s ‘Cloclo’ at the Staatstheater Braunschweig, ‘The Tales of Hoffmann’ at the Staatstheater Darmstadt, and ‘Pagliacci’ at the Staatsoper Hannover.

Since the start of the 2026–27 season, Theresa Steinacker has been Head Dramaturg at the MiR Gelsenkirchen.