Resignation Announcement: Birkmeir Accuses "Standard" of Research Deficiencies
He accused the "Standard" of research deficiencies and emphasized that his announcement at the end of January to resign his directorship after the 2025/26 season had nothing to do with the reports.
"I can prove that I had already formulated my voluntary exit to the chairmen of the board in October 24," said the theater director, who has been in office since autumn 2002 and whose contract was repeatedly extended if not terminated, in the Ö1 interview. He feels unfairly treated by the reporting on complaints from employees who had already complained to the city of Vienna in 2021 about suggestive remarks, exertion of pressure, and a "system of fear and abuse of power".
Birkmeir: "Please just do proper research!"
"I think there needs to be fair investigations instead of hasty judgments, and many employees at the Theater der Jugend naturally also see their integrity indirectly questioned, because it simultaneously implies a system of fear, led by Birkmeir, and so many people have tolerated it for decades and that is simply a construction of connections where I really say: Please just do proper research!", said Birkmeir.
Apparently, a generation now in their 60s should be "kicked out" of the theaters by linking cases that have nothing to do with each other (recently, similar allegations were made against the director of the Theater in der Josefstadt, Herbert Föttinger, note), he said. "Regarding the allegations against me, I simply see very clear journalistic deficiencies and suspect that at the 'Standard', click numbers are more important than balanced reporting."
"No Specific Reason" for Involving "Health Consult"
The city of Vienna recently emphasized that after the allegations made in 2021, they quickly sought discussions. It was "credibly assured" that the externally involved company "Health Consult" was implementing measures to improve the working climate and acting as an additional trust point for theater employees. Regarding the involvement of "Health Consult" at that time, Birkmeir said today: "There was no specific reason. We simply decided internally to do it to stay up to date."
The board of the Theater der Jugend is currently preparing a new call for applications for the directorship. In a statement on behalf of the works council of the Theater der Jugend on Tuesday afternoon, employees of the house, including actors, directors, stage and costume designers, emphasize "working or having worked with joy at the Theater der Jugend" and "feeling very comfortable at this house". "The collaboration between directors and actors, also with Mr. Birkmeir himself, takes place in a constant effort for respect and openness," the statement says.
They do not want to deny or downplay that "there may have been incidents through which people felt hurt and treated inappropriately". It is important to be vigilant and respond accordingly. "Especially in final rehearsals before premieres, due to time pressure, success stress, artistic demands on oneself and others, there may have been discord and verbal missteps. We do not want this to be understood as an excuse or a free pass for such events. But it is important for us to say that such things are not used at the Theater der Jugend to deliberately humiliate or hurt others," the statement says.
This cannot be used to judge the working climate in general. "Therefore, we strongly reject the notion that the Theater der Jugend has become a 'system of fear and abuse of power' or 'a place of control and fear' under the directorship of Thomas Birkmeir," says the statement signed by Uwe Achilles and Susanne Altschul.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.