“I would like to sincerely apologise to all those involved, first and foremost to Ms Hüster, for my action, which I absolutely do not condone. In retrospect, I clearly realise that this was a shameful act in the heat of the moment and an overreaction.

Nevertheless, I would like to state that in this difficult post-Corona period for theatre, it would be appropriate for all media, including the feature pages of renowned print media, to reconsider a certain form of destructive, hurtful reporting that damages the entire cultural sector. Behind every theatre production are many people who give their heart and soul to it. Precisely because I am also a public figure, I cannot accept everything in silence. But I admit: my attack on Ms Hüster, which can be explained by the nervous strain of two premières in quick succession (9.2. The Hague, 11.2. Hanover), has, as I fully recognise, without doubt far exceeded the limits of justifiable forms of non-silence.

At the same time, however, I would like to point out the following: In an age that reacts so sensitively to everything we do and say, even cultural criticism – and this explicitly also under the indisputable premise of freedom of opinion and freedom of the press – must ask itself the question of where it violates the boundary to insult, denigrate works, mobbing, attempting negative opinion-making and damaging business.

This is what Ms Hüster, at least towards me (and some, though not all, colleagues will be able to confirm this), has been practising again and again for years in a more or less subtle way with her often spiteful criticisms. I beg your pardon. But I also ask for some understanding at least for the reasons why this has happened”.