Stalburg Theater

The Stalburg Theater stands in Frankfurt’s Nordend district. Its building dates back to 1415 and once belonged to Claus Stalburg, the city’s richest patrician in the late 15th century. The structure was later turned into a Baroque residence and, in the 19th century, became part of the Apfelweinwirtschaft Zur Stalburg inn. Only minor additions were made after 1900, including a dance hall that hosted men’s choral societies until the last one closed in 2010. Journalist Michael Herl founded the theater in 1998 inside the unused dance hall. A non-profit association now runs the venue, which runs performances almost daily from September to June. About 80 per cent of the shows are in-house productions, while guest ensembles and cabaret artists fill the remaining slots. Names like Claus von Wagner, Mathias Tretter and Lisa Eckhart first appeared on this stage before gaining wider fame. Summer brings the open-air festival Stoffel to Günthersburgpark. Since 2003 it has offered two daily programmes over nearly four weeks with no admission charge. Inside, the intimate setting lets audiences experience everything from satirical plays to solo performances. The building’s unchanged rooms and the surrounding park create a quiet contrast to the lively arts scene within.