Sanierung und Zukunft

Refurbishment and the future

Adapt or get left behind – this also holds for public buildings like theatres that may retain the same building and stage technology as well as the same building structure, in some cases from the post-war period, for many years and then find themselves in need of sustainable refurbishment. Changes to how individual performance spaces are used must be considered as part of this, with expectations of modern theatres growing over time. At Theater Oberhausen, our eventful history is evident from the names of the various spaces. For example, we have our orchestra rehearsal room (OPR) on the third floor, although we no longer have a musical theatre department. And there’s a small ballet hall (Ballettsaal) from the time of our ballet companies up to the nineties. One of the two internal courtyards in our building ensemble is still known as the metalworking shop (Schlosserei) yard. In the mid-2000s, the painters’ hall, carpentry and metalworking workshops were moved to the newly built rehearsal stages in Lessingstrasse in the Buschhausen district of Oberhausen to meet the long-term rehearsal needs of a repertory theatre.

An ongoing process of modernisation and renewal then began in 2020. Over the years ahead, the current building sections and technology at Will-Quadflieg-Platz will be gradually updated with due care..

Various modernisation and repair measures will be undertaken to ensure that the theatre can continue to meet future challenges over the long term.

Fresh start to a new decade: the first construction phase began in 2020

Political and administrative bodies in Oberhausen charted a course for the theatre’s future in 2020. Modernisation works on Theater Oberhausen began while the theatre was closed during summer 2020. This was focused on upgrading the Grosses Haus stage equipment. The traditional manual counterweight systems made from hemp that had been operated by hand by stage technicians for decades were replaced by digitally controlled hoists that would allow for efficient set changes in the stage tower. Mechanical aids and digital controls were installed to assist employees with physical tasks and open up new possibilities. To this end, the entire stage area behind what is called the iron curtain was structurally gutted, all lines and fittings were removed, a service staircase was fitted and the stage electrics and drives were upgraded.

In parallel to this, work also began in 2020 on bringing the entire building complex in line with the latest fire prevention standards. Escape and emergency routes and fire zones were revised, smoke extraction in the event of a fire was tested and walls, doors and cable runs were upgraded to the required version. This sizeable package of measures was gradually realised over a period of more than two years.

Big events are still to come: construction phase II in 2021 and the coronavirus pandemic

Shortly after Theater Oberhausen’s 100th anniversary celebrations and the first premiere following the completion of construction phase I, cultural life virtually ground to a halt again for a second time. While closed on account of the pandemic from November 2020, Theater Oberhausen took the opportunity to bring forward fire prevention measures from construction phase II. In parallel, planning for significant construction work in the forthcoming theatre holidays continued: replacement of all ventilation systems with new state-of-the-art technology, installation of a modern fire prevention solution for the Grosses Haus roof, preparation of various technical reports, inspections for pollutants and much more. In respect of the stage technology, the plans envisaged the replacement of the stage lighting and the stage equipment in the front stage area. Construction phase II lasted from June 2021 to January 2022.

This led to an unusual 2021/22 performance season, with the Gasometer Oberhausen and Bertha-von Suttner-Gymnasium auditorium in the Marienviertel district being used as external venues and rehearsal stage 2 in Oberhausen/Buschhausen being retrofitted to function as an interim performance space for the Grosses Haus.

Cue the spotlights: modernisation of the lighting system in construction phase III in spring/summer 2022

Technical and structural modernisation work was also carried out at Theater Oberhausen from early in the summer of 2022 to the end of the theatre holidays. The focus this time was on the Grosses Haus lighting system, including modernisation of the lighting control desk and dimmer room, all measures that had to be completed within a short space of time.

With Kathrin Mädler as the new theatre director from the 2022/23 performance season, a modern stage, space and usage concept has also been developed for the bar to create the right performance area for original artistic offerings.

Further sustainable and modern adaptations to the theatre with an eye to the future

DAs a modern theatre with a solid tradition, Theater Oberhausen wants to continue to evolve in a sustainable and future-focused way. Its application for the SJK federal funding programme (for the refurbishment of municipal sports, youth and cultural facilities) has been approved. With a volume of some €3.8 million, the SJK project covers the acoustic refurbishment of the Grosses Haus, also incorporating acoustic accessibility, audio transcription, improved general accessibility and structural changes that will allow the building to open up to the neighbourhood. In addition, new signage systems, green screen solutions and media/digital measures are intended to make the theatre inviting and appealing to a broad spectrum of audiences and promote artistic and educational theatre innovation. Considering every aspect of the theatre and not simply structural measures in order to ensure universal accessibility in the spirit of theatre for all is a major priority. The city council greenlit the project on 28/06/2021. It is scheduled to be both planned and fully completed by late 2025.