Imagine a wave frozen mid-crash. That’s one way to see the D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. It is an iconic landmark. Its curved white structure dominates Gustaf-Gr\u00fcndgens-Platz.
Welcome to the D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus! This is more than just a theatre. It’s a cultural institution. The D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus is the largest spoken-word theatre in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is one of the largest stages in the German-speaking world. Locals often call it simply D’haus.
The D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus program includes plays. Young people’s theatre is also performed here. The Stadt:Kollektiv adds another dimension. The D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus engages with the whole city. It embraces the diversity of its community.
Bernhard Pfau designed this architectural marvel. He opened it to the public in 1970. Pfau was born in Mainz in 1902. He studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule Mainz. Pfau later worked with Otto Wagner and Joseph Hoffmann in Vienna. Emil Fahrenkamp brought Pfau to D\u00fcsseldorf in the late 1920s.
The building’s design features curving lines. Its sculpted form rises in stages. It includes a Gro\u00dfes Haus. The Gro\u00dfes Haus had about 900 seats originally. Today it has about 730. There is also a Kleines Haus with up to 300 seats.
Behind the facade lies the stage house. It is the building’s tallest part. It includes the main stage and side stages. The building’s wave-like form evokes nature. It also suggests a theatre curtain. The D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus contrasts beautifully with the nearby Dreischeibenhaus. The Schauspielhaus reflects in the glass facade of that building.
From 2016 to 2019, the theatre underwent extensive renovations. During this time, the D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus performed in various locations. These included a theatre tent. Performances also took place at Central am Hauptbahnhof. The D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus celebrated its 50th anniversary in January 2020.
The history of theatre in D\u00fcsseldorf dates back to 1747. In that year, the Gie\u00dfhaus was converted into a theatre. In 1818, King Friedrich Wilhelm II gifted the theatre to the city. Karl Leberecht Immermann led the theatre in 1834. He brought a new style of directing.
Louise Dumont and Gustav Lindemann opened the Schauspielhaus D\u00fcsseldorf in 1905. Louise Dumont provided most of the funding. The couple aimed to shape public taste through high artistic standards. The Schauspielhaus became known as a reform stage. Gustaf Gr\u00fcndgens was one of its students.
Wolfgang Langhoff became the director in 1945. Gustaf Gr\u00fcndgens followed in 1947. His enthusiasm inspired staff and audiences. Productions from this time made the D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus a leading theatre in Europe.
The D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus became a GmbH in 1951. This gave the theatre greater independence. Karl Heinz Stroux succeeded Gr\u00fcndgens in 1955. He solidified the theatre’s reputation with classic plays.
The D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus was located on Jahnstra\u00dfe from 1951 to 1970. The building proved too small. Bernhard Pfau began planning a new building in the early 1960s. The foundation stone was laid in 1965. The new D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus opened in 1970.
Ulrich Brecht took over in 1972. G\u00fcnther Beelitz followed in 1974. Anna Badora led the theatre from 1996 to 2006. Staffan Valdemar Holm became general director in 2011. Wilfried Schulz has been the general director since 2016.
Today, the D\u00fcsseldorfer Schauspielhaus continues to thrive. It produces about 900 performances each year. In the 2023/24 season, it welcomed 252,300 visitors.
As you stand here, consider the Schauspielhaus. It stands as a testament to D\u00fcsseldorf’s rich cultural history. It is a vibrant center for the performing arts.