In the late 1920s, a venue emerged in eastern Berlin that epitomized the promise of modern mass culture like no other: the “Plaza” on what was then Küstriner Platz, now Franz-Mehring-Platz.
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Neuland
Opened in 1929, the variety theater could seat around 3,000 people. Its program was explicitly aimed at a broad, including working-class, audience.
The Plaza variety theater was thus an expression of the late Weimar Republic, as it was intended to fulfill the promise of access to culture and entertainment across social boundaries.
The National Socialists’ seizure of power in 1933 put an end to this promise. The Jewish owners were expropriated, and the theater was eventually integrated into the structures of the Nazi recreational organizations. The building was destroyed during World War II. The massive stage tower was considered militarily important during the frenzied “Battle of Berlin” in 1945. It was demolished in 1952. The current FMP1 was built in its place.
In her lecture, Dr. Johanna Niedbalski traces the brief yet eventful history of the Plaza Theater and demonstrates how its use fit into the entertainment culture of those years.
The event takes place as part of the book presentation on the history of the square.
- May 27, 2026
- 7:00 p.m.
- Salon (Franz-Mehring-Platz 1, 10243)
Additional information
Dates
May 2026
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