The Schauspielhaus

The Schauspielhaus of the Münchner Kammerspiele is an outstanding example of Art Nouveau theatre architecture. The façade of the building on Maximilianstrasse displays a reserved elegance that reflects the neo-Gothic influences of the time. Inside, however, the entire design language of Art Nouveau is given free rein. The theatre’s interior is resplendent with the floral and organic motifs typical of Art Nouveau. Walls and ceilings are decorated with curved, plant-like ornamentation that creates a lively and dynamic atmosphere. These patterns are reiterated on banisters and light fittings which are often made of forged iron with elaborate floral elements. The interior colour scheme is also characteristic of Art Nouveau, with warm earthy tones dominating, complemented by green and golden hues. This scheme emphasises the floral motifs and grants the space a warm yet elegant atmosphere. The lush textiles of the seating and curtains reiterate the colours and contribute to the refinement of the space. The conception of the Schauspielhaus as an intimate theatre with a close interaction between the audience and stage corresponds to the general concept of Art Nouveau which aims to provide a holistic aesthetic experience. Overall, the Münchner Kammerspiele’s Schauspielhaus presents a special example of Art Nouveau in Munich in both its exterior and interior design. The inside of the building impresses with its artistically conceived details and harmonious colour scheme, both of which define the unique character of the theatre and form a counterpoint to the luxurious Maximilianstrasse outside.

The Münchner Kammerspiele’s Schauspielhaus was built between 1900 and 1901. Property owners Arthur and Max Riemerschmid commissioned Heilmann & Littmann, the largest building company in Munich to specialise in theatre construction at the time, to build the theatre. In 1911, the artistic director Erich Ziegel founded the Münchner Kammerspiele at Augustenstrasse 89 under the name of the Münchner Lustspielhaus. The opening premiere of Georg Büchner’s “Danton’s Death” on 19 September 1926 marked the theatre’s official move to Maximilianstrasse. The street layout of the area was set down between 1853 and 1875 under King Maximilian II. The classically proportioned buildings, Gothic forms and buttresses by the architects Bürklein, Ziebland, Gottgetreu, Voit and Riedel which give the façades their graphically restrained and constantly repeated reliefs are characteristic of the “Maximilian style”. The theatre was completed at the end of March 1901, with the enlargement of the backstage area and a wing containing the leading artists’ dressing rooms finished in 1925. The auditorium was renovated in 1970-1971 by Reinhard Riemerschmid. On 23 March 2003, a production of William Shakespeare’s “Othello” directed by Luk Perceval marked the reopening of the theatre.

In comparison to others, today’s Schauspielhaus is a small theatre. From the outside, it is not particularly noticeable on the wide Munich boulevard of Maximilianstrasse. However, the theatre complex extends across gardens and blocks of houses between Maximilianstrasse, Hildegardstrasse, Kanalstrasse and Falckenbergstrasse. This plot of land measures approximately 6800 m² in total and was built on with construction costs of 380,000 marks.

The Münchner Kammerspiele’s Schauspielhaus, a low-set rectangular building with an atrium and side risalits, benefits from a structured, easy-to-grasp floor plan. Due to a Gothic-style edifice standing directly in front of the theatre and facing Maximilianstrasse, the Schauspielhaus does not have a façade of its own. Entry is gained via two passages that cut through the building at Maximiliansstrasse 26 and 28 and lead to the theatre located in the inner courtyard.

The ground floor features a broad rectangular atrium made of stone which comprises the box office hall and provides direct access to the cloakroom and the inner foyer. From here, the visitor reaches the auditorium itself with the seating area and stage. The theatre’s stalls and single circle contain 727 seats in total. The raked stalls and the circle, which extends deeply into the space, are both furnished with seating. The upper tier also contains nine boxes which round off the auditorium and make the space appear smaller than it actually is. This contributes to the intimate atmosphere inside the theatre. With the two-storey structure and relatively small audience space, Littmann aimed to create optimal visibility from all seats and bring the audience closer to the stage. The proscenium arch which creates the transition to the stage is fitted with two separate boxes in both tiers.

The second storey of the theatre is divided into three parts with a foyer, the auditorium in the middle and flanking cloakrooms. However, this structural tripartite division can only be seen in cross-section. In this way, the layout of the space and use of the ground floor in the stage area is repeated in the floor plan. With this clear and well-thought-out structure, the Schauspielhaus creates an inviting and functional environment for visitors and an efficient workplace for artists and employees.

Behind the auditorium is the stage house which contains not only the stage itself but also the fly tower, prop and scenery stores, and dressing rooms. The stage is 19 metres wide and opens to the auditorium at a height of 5.7 metres. Behind it is the backstage area through which stage sets and props can easily be moved using rails. Either side has exits to the inner courtyard. This formerly served as a garden but today contains workshops and prop storage rooms.

Leonie Oberhauser, Maxi Friedl, Moritz Segura Kanngießer, Shanice Sadikov (Academy of Fine Arts, 2024 Summer Semester, Architecture Seminar by Dr. Ayca Beygo)