Once a cinema now a vibrant variety theater. The Urania Theater stands before us. It is a testament to Cologne’s ever-evolving cultural scene.
The Urania Theater has a rich history. It began in 1930 as the Lichtburg cinema. Later it became the Ehrenfelder Volkskino and Volks-Lichtspiele. After World War II it reopened as the Rio-Theater in 1953. It entertained audiences until 1968. The building then served different purposes. It was a supermarket and even a kindergarten.
In 1985 Claudia Howard and Kurt Lambrigger revived it. They established the Urania Theater. It became Cologne’s first district theater. The Urania Theater quickly gained recognition. In 1990 it received the Cologne Theater Prize for “Sindbadland”.
Many well-known actors started here. Martin Armknecht Katy Karrenbauer and Mariele Millowitsch all performed at the Urania Theater. Millowitsch even managed the theater for a short time. Sadly the Urania Theater closed in 1993.
The Arkadas Theater moved into the building in 1997. Necati Sahin founded it. In 2003 the Arkadas Theater won the Cologne Children’s and Youth Theater Prize. In 2006 the association Bühne der Kulturen took over. They turned it into an intercultural venue. In 2017 the German Cultural Council placed the theater on the Red List. It was categorized as threatened with closure. The theater closed on July 31 2017.
But the story doesn’t end there. In October 2017 the Ensemble Phoenix Bühnenspielgemeinschaft stepped in. Bettina Montazem Richard Bargel and Frank Oppermann led the group. They restored the theater’s original name Urania Theater. On November 7 2017 the Urania Theater reopened. The opening performance was “Mother Courage”.
Today the Urania Theater is a unique variety theater. It is the only one in Europe that combines musical theater with artistry. The theater produces original shows. Award-winning artists from around the world perform here. This family-run theater is led by three women. It offers a personal atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy drinks and snacks. The Urania Theater is also available for events. It hosts business meetings presentations and film shoots.
The Urania Theater is more than just a theater. It is a place where the past meets the present. It is a place where art and culture thrive. It is a place where memories are made.