Stadttheater Düren

The Stadttheater Düren was a theatre in the town of Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia. It stood on what is now Hoeschplatz, built between 1905 and 1907 to a design by Carl Moritz, the architect of Cologne’s opera house. The project was funded by a local businessman, Eberhard Hoesch, who donated 500,000 Marks. Before its construction, plays had been held in inns around the town. The building opened on 17 January 1907 and seated 700 people in the Jugendstil style. The theatre hosted visiting performers including actors Willy Birgel, Paul Henckels and Asta Nielsen, pianist Elly Ney and conductor Herbert von Karajan. Its stage saw no permanent company, only touring productions. On 16 November 1944 the building was destroyed by wartime bombing, leaving only the basement and facade standing. The ruins were cleared in 1952, and the stones were reused for cemetery walls on Kölnstraße. After the war, performances resumed in temporary venues. The first post-war show took place on 25 April 1946 in a hospital hall that is now part of LVR-Klinik Düren. Later, the Stiftisches Gymnasium hall hosted shows until 30 November 1991. Since then, the municipal Haus der Stadt has been the main venue for theatre in Düren.