Das-Da-Theater

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The-Da-Theater by day

Entrance area at night

Das -Da-Theater (spelling: DAS DA THEATER) is a private theater run as a non-profit GmbH based in Aachen , Liebigstrasse 9, on the site of the disused old slaughterhouse in Aachen's northern district . It was founded in 1987 and with 30 permanent and 20 freelancers is the largest free and professional theater in the Aachen city region .

In addition to performances on its own stage and on tours, the theater in the Aachen Theater Education Center (TPZ) offers numerous courses and workshops for all age groups.

history

The origins of today's Das-Da-Theater lie in an independent ensemble of theater-loving students from the Aachen Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium who established themselves in the region without a permanent theater.

With their first production of The Last Room by Graham Greene , the school group was invited to the North Rhine-Westphalia theater competition in Soest in 1987 . The school ensemble gradually developed into a free amateur theater, which soon found a permanent summer venue in Frankenberg Castle . Shakespeare's classics were on the schedule for the historic castle . In addition, the young acting amateurs started a mobile children's theater in 1992, which from then on was regularly visited in Aachen elementary schools.

Momo in the theater hall 1

The Das-Da-Theater on Liebigstrasse opened in 1994 with a production by Jean Anouilh's Antigone . At the time, the theater consisted of only one room stage with 99 seats. In the same year the association was founded.

In 1998 a new theater hall was installed in an adjacent warehouse, while a foyer with a bar was created in the previous theater space. In 2004 a second theater hall was added as well as the administration area, which was previously located in the basement. At that time, Das-Da-Theater had a total of 238 seats in two halls.

The Boss - Gut Hebscheid (2016)

In 2007, the previously registered association was converted into a non-profit limited company, at the same time the focus was on an ensemble with professional actors and the number of permanent employees gradually increased. In 2009 there was a dinner theater program for the first time in collaboration with Brasserie Aix . In 2011, the first inclusive theater project was realized in cooperation with the Association of Physically and Multiple Disabled People Aachen (VKM), a stage version of the novel Momo by Michael Ende was performed .

In May 2014, artistic director Tom Hirtz received the Aachen Social Prize from the entrepreneurial initiative ASU / BJU for his social commitment and his work at Das-Da-Theater .

Children's and youth theater and accompanying educational events and courses have been an important pillar of Das-Da-Theater since 1991. The Theater Pedagogical Center (TPZ) was launched in autumn 2014 and housed in an additional 200 m² extension.

After the closure of the Aix Brasserie, dinner theater performances have been taking place at Gut Hebscheid since 2016 .

Director and other people

Tom Hirtz has been a manager at Das-Da-Theater right from the start, now under the name of “Managing Partner and Artistic Director”. He also staged most of the plays himself. Maren Dupont and Achim Bieler stand by his side as other regular directors. The musician and composer Christoph Eisenburger has been the musical director of many stage productions since 1991. The actors Philip Butz , Elisabeth Hoppe and Henning Vogt started their careers at Das-Da-Theater.

structure

The good death

Das-Da-Theater is divided into three areas that work independently but belong to the same company.

Das-Da-Theater

This area includes world premieres, Aachen premieres, contemporary pieces, classics and musical works. Five in-house productions for adults are produced there every year. The already established theater dinner is a special format. This includes a play with singing and a 5-course menu for the audience. There are also guest performances (concerts and cabaret) as part of the theater program.

Das-Da-Kindertheater

Musical Summer of Love (2015)

Two new plays for children are staged every year. With the child-friendly productions

Das-Da-Kindertheater goes on tour through elementary schools and kindergartens with a complete set of stage equipment - from the Eifel to Mönchengladbach . In addition, there are selected children's theater performances in the Theater an der Liebigstrasse for young audiences as part of the Theater Starter series .

Theater education center in Aachen

The TPZ of Das-Da-Theater has established itself as an independent brand. Numerous theater educational offers (workshops, theater, improvisation and dance courses , camera acting , advanced training for teachers, educators and educators, guided tours, etc.) for individuals and groups under the guidance of professional lecturers are offered here.

Venues

Shakespeare's Complete Works - Burg Frankenberg (2016)

At the ark at eight - mobile children's theater

The premises of today's Das-Da-Theater are located in an industrial area in the north of Aachen and originally housed a sausage factory - adjacent to the still-preserved Aachen slaughterhouse. Before it was converted into a theater, the building was last used by a forwarding company that owned a warehouse and an administrative wing there. The main building consists of two amusement arcades in which plays, musicals, comedies and plays for children and young people are shown.

In addition, the theater goes on tour with plays for young audiences through elementary schools and kindergartens in the Aachen city region and from the Eifel to Mönchengladbach. Frankenberg Castle in Aachen has established itself as a summer venue.

Since 1991, one piece has been played en suite open air each early summer . Often it is a work by William Shakespeare, but Carlo Goldoni's Mirandolina or The Woman in Black by Susan Hill were also presented there. At Gut Hebscheid there is a dinner theater every season.