Schaubühne
Encyclopedia
The Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz is a famous theatre in the Wilmersdorf
district of Berlin
, located at almost the middle of the famous Kurfürstendamm
. It is a conversion of the Kino Universum, designed by Erich Mendelsohn
in 1926. This was perhaps the first Modernist cinema built in the world, as opposed to the Moorish, Egyptian and baroque styles that predominated. Mendelsohn wrote a short text on his cinema, declaring 'no baroque palaces for Buster Keaton
'. The cinema would become very influential on Streamline Moderne
cinema design in the 1930s. It is the centrepiece of a wider design by Mendelsohn for the WOGA housing complex.
The building's current use as a theatre dates from the late 1970s, and the interiors have been completely changed. Since 2005, Thomas Ostermeier and Jens Hillje are responsible for a quiet modern orientation – where tradition still has its place – of Peter Stein
's former Theatre.
Wilmersdorf
Wilmersdorf is an inner city locality of Berlin, formerly a borough by itself but since Berlin's 2001 administrative reform a part of the new borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.-History:...
district of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, located at almost the middle of the famous Kurfürstendamm
Kurfürstendamm
The Kurfürstendamm, known locally as the Ku'damm, is one of the most famous avenues in Berlin. The street takes its name from the former Kurfürsten of Brandenburg. This very broad, long boulevard can be considered the Champs-Élysées of Berlin — full of shops, houses, hotels and restaurants...
. It is a conversion of the Kino Universum, designed by Erich Mendelsohn
Erich Mendelsohn
Erich Mendelsohn was a Jewish German architect, known for his expressionist architecture in the 1920s, as well as for developing a dynamic functionalism in his projects for department stores and cinemas.-Early life:...
in 1926. This was perhaps the first Modernist cinema built in the world, as opposed to the Moorish, Egyptian and baroque styles that predominated. Mendelsohn wrote a short text on his cinema, declaring 'no baroque palaces for Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
'. The cinema would become very influential on Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s...
cinema design in the 1930s. It is the centrepiece of a wider design by Mendelsohn for the WOGA housing complex.
The building's current use as a theatre dates from the late 1970s, and the interiors have been completely changed. Since 2005, Thomas Ostermeier and Jens Hillje are responsible for a quiet modern orientation – where tradition still has its place – of Peter Stein
Peter Stein
Peter Stein is a critically acclaimed German theatre and opera director who established himself at the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, a company that he brought to the forefront of German theatre....
's former Theatre.