Darmstadt State Theater

The Staatstheater Darmstadt stands in the centre of Darmstadt on Georg-Büchner-Platz. It is a large public theatre funded by Hesse and the city. The present building opened in 1972 after an architectural competition won by Rolf Prange. Inside are three performance spaces: the Großes Haus with 956 seats, the Kleines Haus with 482, and the Kammerspiele with 120. The stage machinery and technical equipment were renewed between 2002 and 2006. The theatre has a continuous history since 1711 when a court theatre opened at the request of Elisabeth Dorothea von Hessen-Darmstadt. In 1819 Georg Moller built a grand hall with 2000 seats and advanced stage machinery. After destruction in the Second World War the company performed for decades in the Orangerie. Directors such as Gustav Hartung and Rudolf Sellner introduced premieres of modern plays and operas. Recent seasons have seen works by Reinhard Febel, Jan Müller-Wieland and others first performed here. A visitor finds a modern theatre with classical and contemporary repertoire. The Großes Haus presents opera and orchestral concerts, the Kleines Haus hosts plays and dance, and the Kammerspiele stages experimental pieces. The building’s foyers and staircases are arranged to guide audiences between the halls. Outside, the square bears the name of Georg Büchner, linking the theatre to the city’s cultural identity.