The Thalia Theater in Hamburg is one of the most prestigious and progressive theaters in the German-speaking world. Since Sonja Anders took over as artistic director, the historic building on Alstertor has experienced a powerful artistic revival, radically shifting its focus to the pressing issues of our time.
Photographer Benne Ochs portrayed the Thalia Theater's acting company for the renowned theater's current campaign.
In Hamburg, the Thalia Theater operates two completely different venues: The Main Stage (Alstertor) offers a monumental auditorium with around 1,000 seats for large-scale, visually stunning ensemble productions. The experimental satellite stage, Thalia, on Gaußstraße (Altona), including the new studio stage BOX, is, in contrast, an intimate space for unconventional formats, the independent theater scene, and intimate explorations of the boundaries of acting.
The relaunch under artistic director Sonja Anders took place in late summer 2025, when she succeeded long-serving director Joachim Lux. For the reboot, established, iconic Thalia Theater personalities were brought together with dynamic new talents – such as Florence Adjidome, portrayed here.
The portrait photographs by Benne Ochs significantly shape the modern visual identity of the Thalia Theater. For example, the ensemble is presented in trendy leopard-print adidas Originals track pants. This radically breaks with the image of a stuffy, highbrow theater and emphasizes the theater's modernity.
"Most of us are rather reluctant to be photographed, which is perfectly understandable. Looking at our own picture, unlike looking in the mirror, makes us feel as if we're looking at a stranger. It's unfamiliar. And what we see doesn't seem to correspond at all with what we think we know. While working with the Thalia Theater ensemble, I noticed that something else can also cause discomfort for the actors," we quote Benne Ochs.
The photographer explains: "They are accustomed to expressing themselves with all their facets and senses, and at the same time being experienced by the audience with all their senses. The camera, however, forces them to express themselves with only a small part of their senses: the photograph reduces them to a moment that can only be observed, only experienced with the eyes – in a way, unusually one-dimensional. Photographing the Thalia Theater ensemble was a great privilege for me. Being able to take so many portraits of interesting and enthusiastic people is a gift – and a wonderful challenge.
Doing justice to each personality in its own way while remaining within the pre-defined concept was sometimes a balancing act. I met with the actors before or after the performances; we let ourselves drift, searching for exciting lighting conditions and motifs. Everyone approached me with great openness and trust, allowing me to capture the ensemble in all its emotionality and multifaceted richness."
Photographer Benne Ochs is represented by the Berlin agency EMEIS DEUBEL.
GoSee : thalia-theater.de