Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, Dusseldorf

The renovation of the former Opera House, which was started in 1959 by the Dorf architect Bernhard Pfau, lasted for more than a decade. The official opening of the Schauspielhaus with a performance of Georg B's Danton's Tod, which followed on 16th January 1970, was only accessible to a small number of people. No tickets were available to the general public and thus there were a number of vociferous demonstrators who demanded that the Bin das Schauspielhaus - schmei die fetten Bonzen raus (Citizens in the Schauspielhaus - throw the fat bigwigs out). In the meantime, the Kleine Haus (Small House) as well as the Gro Haus (Large House) has opened to the public. While the Gro Haus offers a classic repertoire, the Kleine Haus is more, as before, an experimental stage. Under the leadership of Germany's only female artistic director, Anna Badora, productions of well known directors, such as S Wortmann or Einar Schleef take place in both hou ses.