Thomas Ostermeier, Doctor honoris causa of the University of Liège

The University of Liège welcomed Thomas Ostermeier, Artistic Director of the Schaubühne in Berlin, to present him with the insignia of Doctor honoris causa. At the ceremony presided over by Rector Anne-Sophie Nyssen, he gave a lecture entitled "A sociological perspective on theatre".

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n 11 December, 2025, ULiège welcomed Thomas Ostermeier, Artistic Director of the Schaubühne in Berlin. A Major figure in contemporary performing arts and live theatre, Thomas Ostermeier is renowned for his bold, innovative approach to directing and his ability to revisit the great classical texts in the light of current socio-political issues. Rector Anne-Sophie Nyssen awarded Ostermeier an honorary doctorate from ULiège.

"This academic year's theme "critical spirit, audacity and resistance", finds in Thomas Ostermeier a remarkable incarnation. His art, both accessible and demanding, invites us to reflect, question and resist."

Thomas Ostermeier then gave a lecture entitled " A Sociological Perspective on Theatre ". He emphasised that truly authentic theatre cannot simply reproduce clichés or stereotyped behaviour. For him, theatrical work must be based on the contradictions of our own existence and the close observation of social realities.

" We live in times of incredible challenges. Climate change, wars, the gap between the rich and the poor, the crisis of capitalism, not to mention the rise of fascism... (...) In a world marked by social conflict, theatre must address these issues if it is to remain relevant  ".

This is the second conference in a cycle of three "grandes conferences universitaires" planned for the 2025-2026 academic year, under the theme "Esprit critique, audace, résistance".

Rachel Brahy, Associate Professor at ULiège's Faculty of Social Sciences and scientific coordinator of the Maison des sciences de l'Homme, introduced ULiège's new honorary doctor and led discussions with the audience.

The evening continued at the Théâtre de Liège with the premiere of Bucket List, created at the Schaubühne.

Replay of the conference (in French)

Une perspective sociologique sur le théâtre

By Thomas Ostermeier, director, Artistic Director of the Schaubühne in Berlin, Honorary Doctor of the ULiège 2025, as part of the Grandes conférences universitaires de l'ULiège cycle.

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