Rhea Eckstein
Biography
Rhea Eckstein is a freelance set and costume designer working in opera and theatre. Following her studies in architecture in Hannover and Bristol, she held an assistant position at the Staatsoper Hannover from season 2019/20 to 2021/22. During this time, she collaborated with prominent set designers such as Etienne Pluss, Susanne Gschwender, Thilo Ullrich, Sarah-Katharina Karl, and Valentin Köhler, as well as video artist Tal Rosner. Independently, she designed the Ballhoffest 2021 and the interactive, inclusive sound installation sound:waves (concept: Nele Tippelmann) at the Staatsoper Hannover. In seasons 2022/23 and 2023/24, Rhea Eckstein continued her career as a freelance artist, assisting various set designers, in particular the renowned designer Etienne Pluss, at leading opera houses across Europe, including the Komische Oper Berlin, Teatro di San Carlo Naples, Opernhaus Zürich, Oper Frankfurt, Staatsoper Stuttgart and Bayerische Staatsoper. Since then, Rhea Eckstein has been working independently as a set and costume designer. In season 2024/25, she designed the set and costumes for Riesen Probleme (directed by Nele Tippelmann) and Däumling (directed by Ulduz Ashraf Gandomi) at Staatstheater Karlsruhe. Additionally, she created the set design for Das Kind der Seehundfrau (directed by Valérie Junker) at the Staatsoper Hannover.
Photo: Anna Peschke