Hein Heckroth

The German designer Hein Heckroth (1901-1970) studied painting at the Städel Schule in Frankfurt. In 1924 he became a stage designer for the municipal theatre of Münster, where his long collaboration with Kurt Jooss began. From 1927, he held the same position with the Aalto Theater in Essen, and he taught at the Folkwangschule.

Heckroth designed almost all productions of Kurt Jooss’ Ballett Jooss. In 1933, he left Germany to work with the company on tour and in England, which Ballets Jooss was based for several years. During this time, he also designed various opera and theatre productions in Londen. After spending more than a year interned during the Second World War, he moved to London and began to work extensively for films. For his contribution to The Red Shoes (1948) and The Tales of Hoffman (1951), he was awarded three Oscars. Heckroth died in Amsterdam, in 1970.