Wintergarten

The Wintergarten theatre was a large variety theatre in Berlin-Mitte. It opened in 1887 and was destroyed during the Second World War. The Skladanowsky brothers showed the first short films there in 1895, making it the first Bioscop movie theatre. It served as both a cinema and a variety theatre. Art historian Erwin Panofsky recalled that around 1905 only one small, slightly disreputable cinema existed in Berlin, called ‘The Meeting Room’. The theatre was revived, relocated and its name licensed again in 1992. Its new home stands on Potsdamer Straße, just south of Potsdamer Platz. The building continues the tradition of variety entertainment. It hosts performances that blend theatre, music and film. Visitors find a modern variety theatre with a stage for live acts. The interior reflects the original spirit of the Wintergarten. The location near Potsdamer Platz offers easy access to other cultural venues. The theatre’s history is part of Berlin’s entertainment legacy.