Theater experience up close: The new exhibition in the German Theater Museum

Theater experience up close: The new exhibition in the German Theater Museum

In Munich, the current exhibition “making THEATER – How theater is created” in the German Theater Museum is causing a stir. Curator Maren Richter impressively documents the fascinating journey of a theater production. The focus is particularly on the production of Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet”, which will premiere on May 16, 2025. The exhibition accompanies the artists and crafts of the Residenztheater and creates a connection between the fleeting nature of the theater event and the durability of an exhibition. So reported nachtkritik.de that visitors can enjoy original TicTacs, which are used as dentures on stage.

Another highlight is the layout of the exhibition, which extends over three floors and shows the development from the first plans to the premiere. Visitors can look forward to drafts, remains, as well as documentary and meta-text. Contributions from “live curation” will also be shown, which will be complemented by an immersive film by Johanna Seggelke. A reportage comic by Lisa Frühbeis, created during rehearsals, is also part of this captivating show.

A look behind the scenes

The backstage area and collaboration in dramaturgy, workshops and rehearsal stage are also the focus of the special exhibition, which can be seen until April 12, 2026. It is worth taking a closer look at topics such as hierarchies, salaries and abuse of power in the theater. Diagrams on the development of salaries in theater professions also provide interesting insights into the industry. Interviews with ensemble members and director Barbara Mundel round off the presentation. Loud deutschestheatermuseum.de Not only is the creation process clearly presented, but it is also an invitation to think about the future of the theater.

In addition, the museum educational center offers school class visits with thematic focuses, including “Romeo and Juliet” or finding a career in the theater. The cooperation between the MPZ, the German Theater Museum and the Residenztheater enables preparatory workshops for the students, which provide good support for the screening visits.

Theater history and awards

In a completely different context, the Max Herrmann Dissertation Prize 2024 was awarded on November 23, 2024. Dr. Christina Vollmert-Boldt received the award for her dissertation "Scenes of civic festival culture. Theatrical places of experience of history, national community and technology in Frankfurt am Main around 1900". The jury praised her analysis, which made a valuable connection between time limits and the extensive festivities. Further details on this are provided theaterhistorie.org.

Theater remains a lively field that is constantly being developed both through new productions and through reflection on its own roots. The exhibition in Munich is another example of how complex and exciting the world of theater is.