Theater an der Ruhr

Theater an der Ruhr stands in Mülheim on the Ruhr river in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was set up in 1980 by Roberto Ciulli and Helmut Schäfer as a private company with the city as a partner. The theatre receives half its budget from public funds and the rest from ticket sales. Its artistic model differs from typical municipal theatres. The company quickly gained a national reputation. In 1981 it staged Frank Wedekind’s Lulu for its first premiere. Early tours with scenery designed by Gralf-Edzard Habben allowed performances to travel cheaply in truck containers. By 1982 guest shows in Berlin drew attention, and in 1988 the theatre was named Theatre of the Year by the journal Theater Heute. Visitors find a modern stage space in Mülheim. Sets travel easily because they fit inside standard containers. The programme mixes classic and contemporary plays. Touring productions reach stages across Germany and beyond. The building itself is unpretentious, letting the work take centre stage.