Schauspiel Leipzig: Into the new theater age with Shakespeare and Swift!

Schauspiel Leipzig: Into the new theater age with Shakespeare and Swift!

In the heart of Leipzig, where history and modern culture meet, the Schauspiel Leipzig is ready for an exciting new start. After a comprehensive renovation of the main stage in the Schauspielhaus, which has served as the main venue since 1957, the curtain will soon rise again. During the renovation work, the interim quarters “ag(o)ra” were created in the agra Messepark, where a series of captivating performances will take place until the end of October 2023, as MDR reports.

The decision to transform Hall 4 of the exhibition center into a theater is not only pragmatic, but also historically significant. The agra trade fair park, known from ancient times as the location of the agricultural exhibition and the scene of the Battle of the Nations, becomes “ag(o)ra”. The name is inspired by the ancient Agora, a place of exchange and debate, which corresponds exactly to the concept of the new interim quarters. Here the audience is invited to experience the theater and the city community in a new way. The redesign process allows Hall 4 to be divided into three different venues: “Saal”, “Lampenladen” and “Kulturbühne”, as Schauspiel Leipzig states.

Diverse program with big topics

The first productions in the ag(o)ra are filled with promising pieces. These include Heiner Müller's “Die Umsiedlerin”, which deals with the memories of the collectivization of agriculture in the GDR, as well as the premiere of Nino Haratischwili's “No Fate, Klytemnestra”. These openings will be added until Shakespeare's “The Tempest” in September 2023. The open-air theater “I’m thinking again (only of you)” is also planned for the summer.

The artistic direction under Enrico Lübbe brings a breath of fresh air into the traditional institution. Under the season motto “We-Songs”, the program includes classical pieces as well as modern and socially critical topics. The commissioned work “German Fairy Tales” by Thomas Köck will premiere in April 2024, and the production of Schiller’s “Maid of Orléans” is also expected. Particular attention is paid to the performance “Staubfrau”, which addresses patriarchal violence over three generations of women, and the German-Turkish play “Bu sözler bizim – The words belong to us”, which deals with identity-forming themes relating to family and society, as Wikipedia highlights.

Positive response and high visitor numbers

Even before the Grand Stage was closed, the Schauspiel Leipzig recorded an increase to 96,000 visitors during its performance and an occupancy rate of around 83 percent. The new interim ensures an expected customer frequency of around 81 percent, and advance sales for the 2025/26 season have already been in full swing since June 19, 2023. Just the anticipation of the first premiere in the renovated theater, “What You Want,” on February 7, 2026, raises high expectations for the artistic concept that will combine Shakespeare with pop icon Taylor Swift.

The end of the current interim period will be celebrated with a performance of Shakespeare's masterpiece “The Tempest” in October 2023, and immediately afterwards the “Politics in Free Theater” festival will take place, which is carried out in cooperation with various Leipzig theaters. The ag(o)ra becomes a place for dialogue and creative encounters in lively Leipzig.

With all of these new projects and the return to the renovated Schauspielhaus, it is clear in Leipzig that the theater is not just a place for entertainment. It is a space that promotes discourse, especially in socially relevant times.