Kassel's new interim theater: Aida starts in stormy times!

Kassel's new interim theater: Aida starts in stormy times!

Cultural life in Kassel has developed excitingly in the last few months. On November 5, 2025, a new interim theater was inaugurated with an impressive production of Verdi's opera "Aida", which was built on a former barracks parade ground. In just 15 months of construction, the non-profit housing association of the city of Kassel mbH (GWG) put together this multifunctional venue, which now also serves as a fully-fledged replacement venue during the renovation of the historic opera house. The city of Kassel rents the building from the GWG and sublets it to the Staatstheater Kassel, thereby preserving the cultural depth of the city until the opera house is completely renovated. This renovation, which is scheduled to begin in 2025 and will take at least five years, has been a topic of conversation since 2018, because the opera house's machines have been shut down since the summer of 2023, making stage changes impossible.

The opening of the interim theater attracted many visitors who could not only look forward to impressive art, but also free snacks. Intendant Florian Lutz has made a name for himself by striving for contemporary musical theater without the usual boundaries. But as it is in the creative world: this forward movement also brings with it tensions, especially in the Kassel State Orchestra. The audience is still wondering whether art will suffer under these new conditions. The production of “Aida”, which is supposed to take place on a cruise ship, is also causing controversial discussions among opera lovers.

The future of musical theater art

One of the most pressing issues is the conflict over the future of musical theater art in Kassel. While the city sees the urgent need to offer a functioning stage for half a decade, artists and those responsible are faced with the challenge of keeping the audience happy despite the changes. “Clever” is often used to refer to well-thought-out solutions, and in the context of interim theater one could say that revolutions in concept were very cleverly planned. In order to cover the ever-growing costs of renovating Germany's dilapidated theater landscape, the state of Hesse is covering 80 percent of the costs of the alternative venue and the restoration of the opera house. The intelligent planning and construction ensures that both sustainability and functionality are the focus.

The long-term urban development of Jägerkaserne I, which will create around 200 new apartments and a neighborhood garage, also shows that Kassel is ready to invest in the future. The technical redevelopment of the area will also offer numerous new possibilities, so that the interim theater can not only be viewed temporarily, but also as part of a larger urban planning concept.

It remains to be seen whether interim theater is ultimately the answer to the questions and challenges of the present time. One thing is certain, however: Kassel is taking a bold step with its unconventional approach, and culture lovers can look forward to numerous new experiences. In this way, the city shows once again that it is able to deal with challenges cleverly and creatively - even if this sometimes brings with it tensions.