“Edward II” the opening night echoes in my mind. This is the Munich Volkstheater. A new beginning for a theatre with a long and storied past.
The Munich Volkstheater or Munich People’s Theater has been a cultural cornerstone for over a century. Its first home opened in 1903. It was a beautiful reinforced concrete building designed by Gerstenecker and Tittrich. Schiller’s Intrigue and Love premiered there. A thousand seats filled with eager spectators.
Elise Aulinger started her career here. Ernst Schrumpf was the initial manager. Wilhelm Braun assisted him. By 1904 the theatre had gained national recognition. Rolf Pinegger joined the cast in 1907 remaining with the Volkstheater for his entire life.
After World War I Ernst Bach took the director’s chair. A festive performance of his farce The Chaste Bon Vivant graced the stage on December 25 1921. Ludwig Schmid-Wildy led the theatre in 1932. It was privately run then. Actors like Ferdinand Dörfler and Willy Rösner graced its stage. World War II destroyed the original building.
Rebuilt in 1955 as a multipurpose hall it found a new home on Brienner Strasse. Another reconstruction took place in 1983. This Volkstheater could seat 609 people. Public donations helped finance this rebuild. Ruth Drexel opened it with Karl Schönherr’s Belief and Home. Jörg-Dieter Haas was the first director. Many famous actors were in the ensemble. Gustl Bayrhammer Helmut Fischer and Ruth Drexel herself were among them.
In 1989 a smaller venue the Nachtkastl was added. Ruth Drexel led the Volkstheater until 2002. Hanns Christian Müller briefly held the position before Christian Stückl took over in 2002. His work with the Oberammergau Passion Play brought him fame. He brought a new profile to the Volkstheater attracting younger audiences.
The Volkstheater’s new building opened in 2021. It’s a modern marvel on Viehhofgelände. It cost 130.7 million euros. The building now boasts 18000 square meters of space. Stückl’s production of Edward II marked the grand opening. The Munich Volkstheater continues its vibrant theatrical tradition in a new era. A testament to Munich’s enduring love for the performing arts.