Schauspielhaus Neubrandenburg

The Schauspielhaus Neubrandenburg is the oldest surviving theatre building in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It stands in the town centre, formed by two adjacent half-timbered houses in Pfaffenstraße. Both buildings are protected monuments and belong to the ensemble of historic Fachwerk architecture. The theatre’s origins go back to 1775 when Duke Adolf Friedrich IV chose Neubrandenburg for his summer residence. He commissioned a permanent playhouse, completed between 1780 and 1794, which later hosted Volksversammlungen during the 1848/49 revolution and served as a military hospital in 1870/71. After decades of use by touring companies, the building was converted in 1890 into a health institute and again in 1994 into a modern theatre. The reconstruction received special support from Schleswig-Holstein and the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Inside, the 180-seat auditorium features a contemporary ceiling painting by Klemens Kühn over the historic barrel vault. The stepped parquet floor allows the rows to be rearranged, sometimes placing the audience on stage. A glass foyer links the two Fachwerk buildings, while the neighbouring Greve-Haus houses visitor services and part of the administration. Nearby, the former ducal stables now contain rehearsal rooms, workshops and the Philharmonie’s music archive. The programme includes classical plays, modern works, music theatre and popular puppet shows for children every Saturday afternoon.