Grenzlandtheater Aachen

The Grenzlandtheater Aachen, initially called Room Theater Aachen, was founded in 1950 by actor Kurt boilers ( 1899-1964 ) as a private theater in Aachen and with GB Shaw's play "The Force of Destiny " opens. Together with the former district Aachen and shareholders it was in 1951 converted into a limited liability company before 1956, the district of the theater completely took over. A few years later came as a further financial support should still the land of North Rhine -Westphalia. In 1962, the theater was renamed the rooms in Grenzlandtheater Aachen and it was one of the first theaters, whose support is a county. The Grenzlandtheater Aachen has no connection whatsoever with the borderland theaters of the Nazi period

Design and Structure

Except for a few full-time employees, the theater does not have a permanent ensemble. The occupation of individual roles as well as the work of the directors are taken from free actors and staff who are connected to the part for years the theater. In the beginning of the year still had as a venue for the lecture hall of the German - English Cultural Institute serve before the theater from 1952 to its current premises in Aachen Elisengalerie (then Nuellens Passage ) was able to move. Before the conversion of these spaces, the house had a small intimate stage without a curtain and the back room and had a capacity of almost 200 spectators. After a thorough renovation with appropriate contemporary renovation work in 1995 and 1996, the stage depth could be greatly improved. There was space for small music groups created and installed a modern computer-controlled switching technology and air conditioning. Despite this modernization it was possible to close and be able to maintain familiarity with the audience.

The theater has specialized with about eight recordings per season to the current repertoire of modern drama. Here is the program ranges from the classics of this period such as " Romeo and Juliet ", " Don Carlos ", " Nathan the Wise ", " Hamlet " or " Faust" on the modern classic " All My Sons " to the dramas "Ghetto ", " Enigma ", " witch-hunt ", etc. But even entertainment plays and musicals such as "Cabaret ," " My Fair Lady" or " La Cage aux Folles " will be performed.

In 1991, an additional patrons has been launched with currently about 600 members to life, which has made it its mission to support the theater of ideas and materials to mobilize sponsors, and also the annual Karl -Heinz Walther price than awarded to outstanding junior award. The Foundation is also editor of the Annual Information Form " backdrop whispers " that appears at the beginning of each season and are about the current program and staff of the theater information.

A special feature of the borderland theater is that each production is shown not only in his own house, but always in a variety of venues for the immediate and wider environment.

Affiliated with the Grenzlandtheater is since 2006 the boy Grenzlandtheater " GRETA ", which has been specifically established to children and youth programs and, for example, with songs like " Diary of Anne Frank" or Sophie's World as a mobile theater group goes to the schools and youth centers. However, workshops, student performances, tours of the theater, accompaniments at sample work belongs to the everyday lives of GRETA. The aim is in accordance with its motto: "Theater is cool" to inspire young people to the theater and to encourage them to theater games.

Artistic director and actor

After Kurt boilers, which had previously been passed as the first post-war director of the Stadttheater Aachen, the Grenzlandtheater from 1950, until his death, the actor Karl -Heinz Walther took over from the Thalia Theater in Hamburg and founder of the Heidelberg Room Theatre as artistic director. After nearly 30 years of management he put this finally from the season 1994/1995 in the capable hands of his longtime dramaturge and director Manfred Rolf Langner, who at the beginning of the season 2009/10 by the trained social workers, actors and speakers of the then Lord Mayor Jürgen Linden Uwe Brandt was replaced.

In addition to the commitment of several guest directors many well-known actresses and actors have spent some time at this theater, or used it as a springboard for their careers in film or theater. These include: Alexandra Wilcke, Klaus Nierhoff, Martina Servatius, Peter Nottmeier, Guido Hammesfahr, Sybille Waury, Anke difficulties Frankowski, Viola Wedekind, Bianca Hein, Beatrice Kaps- Zurmahr, Susanne Evers, Tilmar Kuhn, Axel Weidemann, Bodo Wolf, Daniela Bette Raphael Grosch.

This artistic potential and the associated positive box office and a good use of space, the Grenzlandtheater works extremely successful and is with these numbers leader in North Rhine -Westphalia and second in Germany. Likewise, it provides through co-productions with other theaters as well as organized tours and guest performances own inter alia in Nuremberg, Essen, Frankfurt am Main, beyond the region for a large degree of popularity.