After studying theatre in Bern and several experiences as an actor, Michael Thalheimer turned to directing with shows at the Schauspiel Frankfurt, the Burgtheater in Vienna and the Schaubühne in Berlin among others. Between 2005 and 2008, he was director of the Deutsches Theater Berlin and, since the 2017-2018 season, resident director and member of the artistic team of the Berliner Ensemble.

His productions are often presented at international festivals such as the Salzburger Festspiele and the Wiener Festwochen and have received numerous awards: the Friedrich-Luft-Preis in Berlin, the Golden Mask in Moscow and the Nestroy Prize.

His pure and expressive opera productions have been acclaimed at the Berlin State Opera (Der Freischütz) and Hamburg State Opera (Les Troyens) and at the Flanders Opera Ballet in Antwerp (Macbeth).