Sandra Küpper is an accomplished dramaturg and festival curator with a rich background in international theatre. Her career spans diverse roles and prestigious institutions, reflecting her deep engagement with theatre’s artistic and organizational aspects. Most recently, in 2024, she has been editing a book documenting the Festivals at the Thalia Theater from 2009 to 2025, a project that underscores her long-standing connection with the theatre world. During the same year, she worked as a dramaturg on Orestie I-IV, a co-production between the Salzburg Festival and Thalia Theater, directed by Nicolas Stemann.
From December 2022 to April 2024, Sandra held the position of Head of Global Encounters and Initiatives at Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, where she managed international cultural programs and co-managed foreign affairs on an interim basis. Her expertise as a dramaturg was further recognized when she worked on Zwiegespräch by Peter Handke in late 2022, a production that was invited to the Berliner Theatertreffen and Radikal Jung München, two of Germany’s most prestigious theatre festivals.
Sandra’s earlier experience includes serving as Deputy Artistic Director at Luzerner Theater from 2018 to 2021, overseeing artistic direction and personnel management. In 2017, she co-directed the international performing arts festival Theater der Welt in Hamburg, showcasing her leadership in organizing major cultural events. Additionally, from 2009 to 2017, she was the Artistic Director of the Lessingtage International Theatre Festival at the Thalia Theater in Hamburg. Over her career, she has worked closely with renowned directors and artists, contributing to numerous significant productions at major theatres such as Schauspielhaus Graz and Thalia Theater Hamburg.
Academically, Sandra is well-grounded in her field. She holds a diploma in Dramaturgy from the University of Hamburg and a master’s degree in Theatre Studies, German Studies, and Journalism from the Universities of Leipzig and Vienna. Since 2007, she has also shared her expertise through lectureships and teaching positions in dramaturgy at various institutions, including Karl Franzens University in Graz and the Theatre Academy in Hamburg. Sandra Küpper’s career reflects a deep commitment to the creative and scholarly sides of the performing arts.