Komödie am Altstadtmarkt

The Komödie am Altstadtmarkt is a private theatre in Braunschweig, the largest of its kind in Lower Saxony. It occupies a three-storey building constructed between 1715 and 1720 as a trade hall, possibly designed by Hermann Korb. The southern section still houses the 1857-founded furniture shop Sander. In the north, a cinema called Die Lupe operated from 1949 until 2003, when it closed after 54 years. The building suffered heavy damage in the Second World War and was rebuilt in its original baroque style. In 2003 the cinema space was converted into a theatre under architect Andreas Roemeth. The first production under director Florian Battermann was Dinner für Spinner by Francis Veber. In 2015 the stage was replaced by a steel structure with lifting points for lights and curtains at a cost of 100,000 euros. The theatre presents mainly boulevard comedies, crime plays and Christmas shows for children. It also hosts visiting acts such as music, magic and ventriloquist performances. Since 2020 it has staged summer productions outdoors. The Komödien-Freunde Braunschweig association helps maintain the venue through membership fees and donations.