Renaissance-Theater

– © Florian Profitlich

The experience begins as soon as you step inside the Renaissance-Theater. The interior was redesigned in the art deco style of the 1920s, with elements from the rococo and Expressionist periods, by acclaimed architect Oskar Kaufmann a few years after the theatre was established. Panelled with pink rosewood and adorned with a wealth of decorative elements, the auditorium has a huge, exquisitely inlaid back wall featuring motifs from the Commedia dell'Arte – a gem of theatre architecture.

The Renaissance-Theater opened in 1922 with a performance of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's "Miss Sara Sampson". Its first director was the Austrian writer Theodor Tagger who went on to become a successful dramatist working in the Weimar Republic under the pseudonym of Ferdinand Bruckner. His play "Krankheit der Jugend" (Sickness of Youth) enjoyed great success here in 1928 under his successor Gustav Hartung – even though at this point the true identity of Ferdinand Bruckner was still unknown.

Under Nazi rule the theatre had to stop all performances. However, it reopened shortly after the end of the Second World War. With its combination of literary sophistication and entertainment, the theatre succeeded in re-establishing its reputation. Famous actors who have graced the stage here at this now listed theatre include Helene Weigel, Otto Sander and Curt Goetz.

Today, under artistic and managing director Horst-H. Filohn, the theatre focuses primarily on contemporary drama and is recognised for putting on debut performances and premiere productions by national and international playwrights. The programme still features well-known personalities such as Mario Adorf, Winfried Glatzeder, Maria Hartmann, Ilse Ritter and Udo Samel.

Please note that all perfromances are in German.