Did you know that die Katakombe in Frankfurt started as a collective’s dream? It was October 1960. A group of actors founded it as the Frankfurter Kellertheater. Initially, it resided on Schützenstraße. This was near the Mainufer. Die Katakombe found its permanent home in 1982. It moved to a former cinema on Pfingstweidstraße near the zoo.
Let’s step inside die Katakombe. The auditorium seats 111 people in its standard arrangement. It can expand to accommodate 150. The stage spans 50 square meters. It is at ground level with the audience. Originally a cinema, the seating rises in tiers. This ensures good views from every seat.
Die Katakombe offers a wide range of theater genres. From the start, its concept included a socially critical program that reflects current times. The ensemble constantly seeks new interpretations and performance styles. They perform works from ancient Greeks to contemporary writers. Music and dance are essential elements in every production at die Katakombe.
Since 1972, die Katakombe has featured “theater für kinder”. These plays include works from the Berliner Grips-Theater. Also, the “Rote Grütze” and original plays about children’s everyday lives are performed. These are in close cooperation with schools. The program strongly aligns with the Hessian curriculum for German. Especially the reading lists for the Hessische Landesabitur.
Die Katakombe is more than just a theater. It is a cultural hub. Since 2013, it has opened its doors to other theaters. It is an attractive venue for cultural events beyond the big stages. Die Katakombe also hosts Kleinkunst programs, poetry slams, and film screenings.
Besides die Katakombe, the Volkstheater Hessen also presents regular performances here. F.E.S.T. offers Frankfurt English Speaking Theatre. Theater Bouvard and Freies Boulevard Frankfurt also perform. Various guest theaters and solo artists add to the mix. Kindertheater is set to have a year-round presence once again.
Die Katakombe partners with the Kinder-Kultur-Programm “Frankfurter Flöhe”. This is part of the Jugend- und Sozialamt in Frankfurt. Theater education programs such as workshops are offered. There is also a cooperation with the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Schule through TUSCH.
Die Katakombe embraces its history and its role in Frankfurt’s cultural landscape. From its roots as a cellar theater to its current form as a diverse venue, die Katakombe continues to captivate audiences. It offers thought-provoking performances for all ages. So, next time you are looking for an intimate and engaging theater experience, remember die Katakombe.