The Nationaltheater Mannheim (NTM) is one of the most traditional theaters in Germany. Founded in 1777 by Elector Carl Theodor as the first "German national theater", it became the birthplace of a milestone in theater history in 1782 with the premiere of Friedrich Schiller's "The Robbers". The theater has been run by the city since 1839.
Today, the NTM is a four-genre theater with opera, drama, dance and the Junges Nationaltheater. With over 350,000 visitors a year, it is the cultural flagship of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. International festivals such as the "Schiller Days" and the "Mannheim Summer" set artistic accents beyond the region. The theater has been managed by a board of directors since 2013. Christian Holtzhauer has been responsible for the drama department and the Schiller Days since 2018. Albrecht Puhlmann (opera) and Stephan Thoss (dance) lead their divisions with clear artistic profiles and extended contracts until 2028.
The building on Goetheplatz, built in 1957 according to plans by Gerhard Weber, has been undergoing extensive refurbishment since 2022. In the meantime, performances will take place at interim locations such as the Altes Kino Franklin and the OPAL - Oper am Luisenpark. The reopening of the main theater is planned for the 2028/2029 season.
The Nationaltheater Mannheim stands for a lively combination of tradition and contemporary theater art - a place that writes history and shapes the future.
