Schlosstheater Ludwigsburg

The baroque Schlosstheater in Ludwigsburg stands in the former residence of the dukes and later kings of Württemberg. It was built as a comedy house under Duke Eberhard Ludwig and later fitted out by Philippe de La Guêpière for Duke Carl Eugen. The theatre was completed in 1758 and soon attracted French and German companies to perform for the court. The stage machinery, designed by Johann Christian Keim, still allows scenery to be changed in eleven seconds. Rain, wind and thunder effects were part of the original stagecraft, along with hidden lifts and sliding panels. Six pairs of painted cloth wings are stored on a drum in the attic, ready to be rolled out when needed. The auditorium has three steeply rising balconies and a royal box that spans two floors. The central chandelier is lowered from the roof at the start of each performance using a treadmill powered by human effort. The Burgundy cellar lies beneath the stage, and the whole building is surrounded by the palace gardens and nearby hunting grounds.