History of Putbus Theatre

1817
Count Karl Friedrich von Hahn-Neuhaus, a university friend of Prince Malte zu Putbus, converted a carriage shed, which was part of the old riding stables, into a venue for theatre productions.

1818
J.C. Krampe opens the first play season as the first Stage Director of the Putbus Theatre with the first performances of “Die Friemauer”, a comedy by August von Kotzebue, and “Die Gouvernante”, a one-act play by Theodor Kömer. It is possible that some other performances took place in a small house built behind the Fürstenhof Hotel.

1819
Start of the building of the theatre, the architect is unknown

July 1820
Opening of the Putbus Playhouse. Opening programme: Prologue with reflections by Dr. Carl Schöne and the romantic play „Das Leben ein Traum oder Das Horoskop“ by Calderón de la Barca.

1826
The theatre is modernised and construction defects are corrected under the supervision of Johann Gottfried Steinmeyer. The theatre gains its present appearance.

1882
Prince Wilhelm zu Putbus (1833 – 1907) proposes to convert the theatre into a church. The district building official proves, however, that it would be cheaper to use the Kursalon for that purpose. Prince Wilhelm zu Putbus follows this advice.

1910
The theatre is now fully illuminated with electricity.

01.08.1910
Programme to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the town of Putbus: „Putbus Anno 1810“ – a times portrayal in four acts by Prof. Dr. V. Loebe.

1914 - 1918
The theatre is closed „due to the war“.

Mai 1945
Theatre premises are used for food storage.

1952/53
Extensive reconstruction and installation of modern facilities.

29.08.1953
Re-opening with Lessing‘s play „Minna von Barnhelm“.

1956
The building at Alleestraße 10 (the Fürstenhof Hotel) is converted into a residential house for the theatre.

1958 - 1960
Further improvement of technical facilities (installation of the cyclorama, modern lighting and central heating, expansion of the settings storeroom).

1963
The theatres of Greifswald, Stralsund and Putbus are merged into “joined theatres”.

1965
The millionth visitor since 1955 is welcomed in the Putbus Theatre.

1968
The Greifswald Theatre receives its own independent company. The theatre troupe from Putbus is transferred to Stralsund. Putbus becomes a side stage of the Stralsund Theatre and supplements the play schedule with guest performances.

1971
The Putbus Theatre celebrates its 150^th anniversary.

1976
The Putbus Theatre is returned into subordination of the District of Rügen.

1992
Start of the renovation. The theatre continues its operation in the former House of National People’s Army (NVA) in Prora and later in the partially refurbished stables.

1992 - 1998
By 1998, the foundations and the roof brass were secured, the building now is held together by a ring beam, the roof is newly covered with slate, an air conditioning system is installed, the building acquires new lighting and sound facilities, the stage is renovated and a new grey curtain causes some arguments. New seating is arranged in the auditorium (244 seats) and a chandelier is installed. Hall decoration is reconstructed and the painting in the hall gallery and the upper foyer are restored. A new extension houses dressing rooms for artists, a storeroom and some offices.

1998
On May 2^nd the Putbus Theatre is re-opened and is now operated as an establishment of the District of Rügen. Theatre holidays are moved to the start of the year which enables uninterrupted operation in the summer.

2003
The Putbus Theatre celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the re-opening in 1953 with the Bremerhaven City Theatre guest performance of Lessing’s play “Minna von Barnhelm”.

2006
The State District of Rügen enters business partnership with Theater Vorpommern Ltd. The Putbus Theatre, along with Greifswald and Stralsund, becomes a performance venue for this theatre union.

2011
The CC-Film from Berlin shoots the pivotal scenes of the award-winning film “Wunderkinder” in the Putbus Theatre. Gudrun Landgrebe, Konstantin Wecker, Kai Wiesinger, Gedeon Burkhard also took part in the shooting.

2012
Klaus Möbus, the long-standing theatre manager, hands over the operations to his successor, Peter Gestwa.

2019
The theatre façade is painted, the wall frieze “The Muses” is renovated, a new video-window is installed in the theatre café.

2020
A corona pandemic has prevented the celebratory theater birthday from taking place in almost all projects. The events have to be postponed until 2021.
The theater's support association has collected money for a new coat of arms on the prince's box. Under corona conditions with plenty of distance, the coat of arms can be handed over at a small ceremony on the theater's birthday. The day before, numerous guests can celebrate the holiday outdoors with music in the park.
The theater will have a passenger elevator and will therefore be equipped for people with disabilities.

2021
The year 2021 was still dominated by the corona pandemic. The festival program for the 200th anniversary of the theater will be held from July 4th to 11th, 2021.
The opening concert of the PUTBUS FESTPIELE on May 13th and the chamber concert on May 16th had to take place without an audience and was broadcast via livestream from the theater on YouTube.
The other festival events were postponed. The "Fireworks" concert was moved to the Marstall. There, 121 visitors could experience the concert and the fire juggling at a distance. "Music in the Park" could take place on the prince's birthday because all venues were counted individually and it took place outdoors. Volunteers from the association were busy at all venues to record the visitors. 2,500 guests were recorded. "Dinner and Music" and two other concerts were moved to November and could take place with limited capacity.
We received generous support through the "Neustart Kultur" program and our sponsors, Sparkasse Vorpommern and the Vorpommernfonds.
The cabaret regatta could mostly be held for a maximum of 80 visitors. There were no hotel rooms for the Distel ensemble only.

2022
In 2022, more visitors will be able to come to the theater again, but the response is still cautious. "Neustart Kultur" helps to compensate for the loss.
On December 2nd, we will look back on 30 years of the Putbus Theater Friends Association. A great program was offered with the opera "The Pharmacist", a co-production of the Theater Vorpommern with the Liebhabertheater Kochberg and the Teatru Manuel Valetta. The founding members Dr. Hermann Hooge, Kristine Kasten, Brigitte Krooß, Dr. Angela Merkel and Günter Schmidt will become honorary members.
Thanks to the support of many donors and funding from the district of Rügen, we are able to provide the Putbus Theater with an electric minibus.

Coloured print by F. Rosmäsler, 1820