Did you know that this unassuming building at Belforter Straße 15 has been a dance hall, a cinema, and a hotbed for theatrical experimentation? This is the bat-Studiotheater. It is a place where young talents test their wings.
The bat-Studiotheater has a rich history. In the years 1887 to 1889, the building was erected as a dance hall. It later transformed into the Hinterhofkino ROXY. The 1960s saw Wolf Biermann and Brigitte Soubeyran founding the Berliner Arbeiter- und Studententheater here. It was known as bat for short.
The theater’s early productions such as Berliner Brautgang and George Dandin met with great public approval. However, they provoked the displeasure of the cultural bureaucracy. The bat was shut down shortly after its founding.
But the name bat remained. The Staatliche Schauspielschule was able to show some performances here. In 1974, the building became the seat of the Regieinstituts. It was integrated into the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch in 1981.
Today, the bat Studiotheater serves as a venue for studio, diploma, and practical productions. It also hosts workshop evenings for students of the Hochschule. They can gather their first experiences with their audience here. They also develop their artistic skills in the theater practice.
The bat-Studiotheater offers viewers an excellent opportunity. They can get to know new generations of young artists. They can see them before they make their way into the theaters.
Over the years, there have been plans for various renovations. These were to make the training even more effective and modern. From autumn 2015 to summer 2017, the renovation was finally realized. The hall, stage, and foyer were thoroughly renovated and redesigned.
The architecture now makes it clear that the bat is a laboratory. It is for the students’ diverse theater experiments. This is thanks to the industrial appearance of the bare brick walls. Also thanks to the elimination of stage rake and audience traverse.
The Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts decided in 2009. They wanted to convert the former opera workshops at Zinnowitzer Straße 11. It was to be the central location of the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst. The architectural firm O&O Baukunst was awarded the contract. They added a 24-meter-high stage tower. It features vertical wooden paneling and a glass theater café. This was added to the old building from the 1950s. In 2017, the renovation of the bat was also completed by O&O Baukunst.
The main stage was rebuilt. It can now be operated independently by the students. The Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts looks back on a tradition. It is over 100 years of drama training. Today it is one of the leading performing arts academies in the theater world. The bat Studiotheater is one of three stages. They offer students the opportunity to present their skills. It offers the public the chance to discover young talents. So next time you’re looking for innovative theater, remember the bat-Studiotheater. You might just see the stars of tomorrow here today.