Germany's most famous modern theatre was founded in 1890 as a means of providing live performances of naturalist plays for the common worker at affordable prices. The present striking building, located in Mitte, was designed by Oskar Kaufmann (1873–1956), then rebuilt in a pared-down style in the early 1950s by Hans Richter (1882–1971) following massive damage during the Second World War. During one of its golden eras, between 1915 and 1918, artistic director (and future famous New Yorker) ...
Germany's most famous modern theatre was founded in 1890 as a means of providing live performances of naturalist plays for the common worker at affordable prices. The present striking building, located in Mitte, was designed by Oskar Kaufmann (1873–1956), then rebuilt in a pared-down style in the early 1950s by Hans Richter (1882–1971) following massive damage during the Second World War. During one of its golden eras, between 1915 and 1918, artistic director (and future famous New Yorker) Max Reinhardt (1873–1943) oversaw a company that included famous actors such as Emil Jannings (1929 Oscar winner), Paul Wegener, Eduard von Winterstein, Werner Krauss and Ernst Lubitsch (1892–1947), the latter of whom carved a niche in Hollywood as a director of sophisticated comedies. Today the Volksbühne ('People's Theatre') attracts international directors and stages experimental, provocative and audacious productions, including reworkings of classics. In 2017 Chris Dercon (ex-Tate Modern) replaced longtime creative director Frank Castorf, who had served since 1992. But the unpopular Dercon resigned in 2018, with seasoned Volksbühne director René Pollesch due to take over in 2021. The new regime has instituted certain programming changes. U-Bahn: Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.