A Look Ahead to an Anniversary

Interview with Geoffrey Layton, dramaturg and director, translator of the book The House of Ullstein, and descendant of Leopold Ullstein

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Mr. Layton, on September 6, 1826 – a little over 200 years ago – the publishing house founder Leopold Ullstein was born; he was one of Germany’s most prominent figures in publishing: your great-great-grandfather. You have not only translated the important and insightful memoirs of his son, your great-great-uncle Hermann Ullstein, The House of Ullstein. You yourself are part of that history. Born and raised in New York, you moved to Berlin, where you worked for many years with director Luc Bondy. As a dramaturg, director, and editor, the stage and books are more than just familiar territory to you. What does Berlin mean to you, your family history, and your work?

Sometimes I’m surprised that I’ve remained so loyal to the city of Berlin. I’ve certainly been unfaithful to it with other cities, but I’ve always kept my home in Berlin. I believe my ancestors “draw” on me, shape me, and leave their mark on me – both on my mother’s side and my father’s. They both made their fortunes in Berlin at the same time, during the city’s founding years: David Levin in the ready-to-wear clothing business, and Leopold Ullstein in publishing. I admire her entrepreneurial spirit. And I love both of those lines of work. But I saw the world from a completely different perspective. To me, the world was a stage. And everything that happened on it was made up. I found my happiness elsewhere.

Phoebe Kornfeld, the author of the book publication Passionate Publishers and the granddaughter of journalist Kurt Kornfeld, describes an experience from her time in Berlin in the early 1990s using the Shakespearean phrase “What’s past is prologue.” Can you speak of a comparable defining experience or episode in your own life?

Designing program booklets – which, back in my day, when theaters still had much more money, were designed with great attention to detail. Selecting texts and images. The layout. The balance between text and image. I took great pleasure in it – both at the Schaubühne in Berlin and at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels under Gérard Mortier. At the Münchner Kammerspiele and the Akademietheater in Vienna. Perhaps the publishing spirit of my ancestors was stirring within me.

And to take this line of thought further: A family and business history of this magnitude has a lasting impact on one’s outlook on the world.

No melodrama. Sobriety is the Ullsteins’ mindset, one that has been evident across all generations.

Ullstein has produced a number of the most innovative newspaper and magazine publications: Uhu, Tempo, Die Dame, Querschnitt, Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung, and many others. Which Ullstein publications do you consider to be among the most remarkable?

I love Die Dame and Querschnitt. They’re original-free and creative. Their layout is still surprising even today.

Next year marks another Ullstein anniversary: 150 years since the publishing house was founded by Leopold Ullstein in Berlin. In light of this milestone, what are your thoughts as you look to the future?

It’s history. A chapter that has come to a close. The printing industry, newspapers, and books are, in a sense, things of the past. That’s why I think it would be appropriate to create a public space where people can explore this evolution – a place where young and old can exchange ideas and learn from one another. After all, the enduring value of this history is undeniable, and it will continue to be a part of our lives in the future. I can think of just one of the secrets behind Ullstein's success: constant innovation.

What does the Ullstein photographic collection at ullstein bild mean to you?

Throughout my life, I’ve always taken pleasure in seeing the photo credits. It’s a magnificent collection.

Mr. Layton, thank you very much for this interview!

Questions: Dr. Katrin Bomhoff, ullstein bild collection.

First published on October 31, 2026.

In the gallery, you can view a selection of original photographs from the Ullstein photographic collection in Berlin.

You can find the photo dossier on this topic at ullstein bild.