Comedia theater
The Comedia Theater ( spelling COMEDIA Theater ) is a free children's and youth theater based in the southern part of Cologne . The theater was founded in 1974 under the name "Ömmes & Oimel" in Würzburg and has been based in Cologne since 1977.
With the move to the new Kinderkulturhaus in August 2009, the team parted with the name of the founding group. The children's and youth theater “Ömmes und Oimel”, with a venue since 1982 in “Comedia Colonia”, a former supermarket in Cologne's Löwengasse, has become the “Comedia Children's Theater” and “Comedia Young Theater” areas after the move to Vondelstrasse . Since the 2009/2010 season, it has continued its work in the children's culture house in the former fire station in Vondelstrasse under the new name “Comedia Theater” . It is operated by the "Comedia Colonia Theater gGmbH".
In its concept, the theater combines five complementary program areas under one roof:
- Comedia children's theater
- Comedia Young Theater
- Comedia Cabaret & Co.
- Comedia acting training
- Comedia theater workshop
In two theater halls, in addition to in-house productions in the areas of children's and youth theater and guest performances from cabaret and comedy, theater, dance, readings and concerts for young and adult audiences are also presented.
Children's theater and young theater
The children's theater's own repertoire includes arrangements of well-known material and classic children's and youth literature as well as contemporary author's pieces and ensemble productions. Among other things, theatrical versions of picture books such as The Story of the Fox Who Lost His Mind and An der Arche at eight , modern versions of children's book classics such as Emil and the detectives and pieces by European writers such as A Touch of Winterwetter by Charles Way are shown. The children's and youth repertoire comprises 12 pieces for all age groups (as of 2013). Four to five new productions are created per season. The plays of the children's theater are shown in the morning and afternoon programs. An accompanying educational theater program is always part of the program.
The Young Theater shows productions that deal with the realities of life of the young audience. Adaptations of literary classics such as Die Nibelungen can also be found here in the repertoire. The plays in the Junge Theater can be seen in the morning performances, but also in the regular evening program of the Comedia Theater.
Theater workshop
The theater workshop has offered a continuously growing program since 1988 and primarily uses the course rooms in the building for its activities. The aim of the theater workshop is to enable encounters between the audience and theater professionals, games and art, children and adults, school and theater. The work of the theater workshop also includes making rehearsal processes for current productions transparent. The artistic teams are involved here.
The theater pedagogues and other lecturers from the fields of acting and directing offer various acting courses for children and young people. Cross-generational theater performance projects are also on the program every year. In addition, the youth club for young people from 14 to 18 years of age complements the house's program with one production per season.
For schools, vocational colleges and other cultural institutions there are further training and further education offers: as a “premiere class” accompanying a production up to the premiere and being a guest of honor, “insight” for attending a dress rehearsal with multipliers, short workshops, follow-up discussions after the performances and theater tours.
Theater meetings and festivals
In 2011 the theater was the organizer of the 27th children's and youth theater meeting and festival "Westwind" and in autumn the festival "Spielarten" is a regular guest.
Cabaret & Co.
In addition to children's and youth theater, the two theater halls offer an extensive evening program throughout the week, which has consisted of cabaret, music and theater for adults for over 25 years. Well-known stars of the cabaret scene as well as newcomers are guests in the theater.
Acting training
Acting training has existed since 1990. Around 80 courses are offered every year. The direct connection between an amateur acting school and a professional stage is unique in North Rhine-Westphalia. At the amateur acting school, young people and adults of all ages have the opportunity to undergo systematic acting training. Both theater enthusiasts who have little or no playing experience and those who already play in an amateur theater group and are looking for ideas for their theater work can join. Acting training is not limited to any particular acting method or school. Each of the actors, directors and theater educators who lead the course sets an individual focus in the class.
building
The home of the theater is the former fire station in Cologne's Südstadt. The basic idea of the architect Bernd Oxen was to place the listed fire station and the new theater on an equal footing. A glass joint connects the new building with the monument. A total area of 3,800 m² was created. The old facade of the fire station has been restored and restored. Next to the historic building is the new building, the center of which is formed by two theaters: the red hall for almost 400 spectators and the green hall for 180 spectators. Almost 600 events a year are presented on the two stages, more than half of which are for children and young people. The rooms belonging to the halls - back stages, artists' dressing rooms and workshops - are also located in the new part of the building.
The old building houses a spacious restaurant, the “Comedia Wagenhalle”, on the ground floor. The former sliding poles and tiles on the walls have been preserved there, giving visitors references to the historical use of the fire station.
The rooms on the upper floor were converted into rehearsal and course rooms, tailored to the special requirements of working with children and young people. There are also offices and two artist apartments for guest artists. The historic gym on the top floor was restored true to the original and serves as a rehearsal stage for the ensembles.
The landmark of the new Comedia Theater is the rebuilt drying and climbing tower with a height of 23.7 meters. The architect Bernd Oxen said: “Within the ensemble of buildings, the tower has the particular importance of sending a signal that is visible from afar for the children's culture center. Not as a historical replica, but as a modern adaptation of the former drying and climbing tower. "
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry in the GND
- ↑ Imprint of the website
- ↑ Westwind Archive. West Wind, accessed August 16, 2013 .
Coordinates: 50 ° 55 '14.3 " N , 6 ° 57' 19.5" E