Stadttheater Hildburghausen

The Stadttheater Hildburghausen stands beside the Werra river on the edge of the town park in Hildburghausen, a small town in Thuringia. Built originally in 1721 as a ballroom for Duke Ernst Friedrich I, it became a theatre in 1755 under Duke Ernst Friedrich III. In 1765 a drama school opened there and is recognised as Germany’s first. The theatre was officially founded in 1794 by Duke Friedrich and rebuilt in 1890–91. The building has survived several restorations, most recently between 2004 and 2008, when it reopened after four years of work. Its long history makes it one of the oldest continuously used theatres in the country. The drama school of 1765 set a precedent that influenced later institutions across Germany. Inside, visitors find a restored auditorium with period details and modern comforts. The stage still hosts plays, concerts and other performances throughout the year. Outside, the riverside park offers quiet walks and views of the theatre’s classical façade. The building links the town’s past with its present cultural life.