Werner Hecht

Werner Hecht (1926–2017) was born in Leipzig and studied under Hans Mayer. In 1959, Helene Weigel engaged him as an assistant for directing and dramaturgy at the Berliner Ensemble, where he worked until 1974. From 1976 to 1991, Hecht headed the Brecht Centre in Berlin and organized numerous events devoted to Bertolt Brecht. He edited a series of Brecht’s writings and the newsletter »notate« and was one of the principal editors of the 30-volume Great Berlin and Frankfurt Edition of Brecht’s works (1985–2000). His publications include the Brecht Chronicle, the Short Brecht Chronicle, and monographs on Helene Weigel and Brecht’s life.