Suche
Mein Konto
Small house in Darmstadt: Grand opening after 68 million euros renovation!
Re-opening of the Small House at the Darmstadt State Theater after a 68 million euro renovation. First performances from November 2025.
Small house in Darmstadt: Grand opening after 68 million euros renovation!
The wait is over: After extensive renovation, the Kleines Haus of the Darmstadt State Theater will finally open its doors again in November. After more than three years of intensive work between setting up and dismantling, visitors can look forward to a modern ambience and a diverse program. This renovation was particularly necessary in order to comply with the TÜV approval for gaming operations, as most of the facilities dated back to 1972 FAZ reported.
The renovation, which cost around 68 million euros, is impressive: over 3,450 cubic meters of reinforced concrete were installed, 57 kilometers of electrical cables were laid and 60 tons of weight were invested in new systems. With great attention to safety, an extinguishing system was installed that uses fog instead of water in the event of a fire to avoid unnecessary damage in the event of false alarms. The acoustics in the rooms have also been significantly improved - artistic director Karsten Wiegand emphasizes that every seat in the auditorium now offers first-class sound. These technical innovations are not only new, but also significantly improve accessibility, which is a crucial point for many.
The opening program
Before the regular program starts, viewers can look forward to international dance guest performances as part of the 10th Rhine-Main Dance Festival. On the weekend of November 7th and 8th, the play “Prima Facie” and “Hesse’s longest reading” continue. There will be a premiere on November 9th with the family play “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. Those responsible are willing to offer a colorful, appealing start to the new season that will delight young and old alike.
The involvement of young people is very important in the theater business. Children and young people organized workshops in which they worked on scenes from “The Neverending Story” and tested the new stage design. A documentary documenting the results of these workshops has already been presented at a press conference. In addition to Intendant Wiegand, the Hessian Finance Minister Prof. Dr. R. Alexander Lorz, State Secretary for Culture Christoph Degen and Mayor Hanno Benz were present to appreciate the progress of the renovation.
Important sponsorship
The renovation was largely financed by the state of Hesse, which contributed 54 million euros to the costs. The city of Darmstadt has also invested 14 million euros, creating a cooperation between the city and the state for the operation of the theater, which will bear the costs equally in the future.
The opening of the Little House not only represents the return of an important cultural focal point in Darmstadt, but also the successful partnership between various institutions, which shows that there is a good knack for investment in cultural issues. The announcement of improved accessibility and modern technologies shows how serious those responsible are about creating a more inclusive theater landscape that is accessible to everyone, including the Hesse show thematised.
So let’s look forward to the reopening! The stage is ready, the audience is too - the Kleines Haus in the Darmstadt State Theater is starting a new era.