Packhaustheater Bremen

The Packhaustheater Bremen stands in the Schnoor quarter of Bremen-Mitte, a small theatre built in 1976 with a distinctive saw-tooth roof. It occupies a site near two older packhouses, one from 1661 and another rebuilt in classical style in 1801 and again in 1850. The building has been under Bremish monument protection since 1973. In 2012 the theatre was bought by Knut Schakinnis, who runs six small theatres across Germany. Since 2025 Jörn Meyer and his team from the Metropoltheater Bremen have taken over as new operators. The theatre began in 1947 when Günther Huster founded a chamber theatre in Bremen. After moving through several addresses, the company settled in the Schnoor in 1976. Senator Rolf Speckmann and other citizens supported the creation of the modern auditorium with 140 seats. Karin Schieck later led the house, presenting plays, literature evenings and cabaret. The Puppentheater Theatrium performed here for children from 1987 until 2009. Ingrid Steeger played the first main role after the 2012 refurbishment. Visitors find a compact theatre with a programme of short, entertaining comedies and plays. Productions such as Achtung Deutsch and Landeier – Bauern suchen Frauen ran in 2012 and 2013. The ensemble numbers around seven members and stages up to 250 performances each year on three or four evenings weekly. Since 2016 there have been summer shows again. The current artistic director, Dirk Böhling, focuses on North German themes and local history. Plattdeutsch theatre, stand-up comedians, concerts and readings continue the Hanseatic tradition in the narrow lanes of the Schnoor.