Lessing Theater
Encyclopedia
The Lessing Theater was a theater in Berlin-Mitte, Germany
, at Friedrich-Karl-Ufer 1 (today's Kapelle-Ufer). It opened in 1888 and was destroyed in April 1945 in a bombing raid; its ruins were demolished after World War II
.
The construction of the theater, for around 900,000 Mark, was especially notable since it was the first new theater built in Berlin since the Wallner Theater (1864); in between 1964 and 1888 only renovations of old theaters and existing spaces had taken place. By order of director Oscar Blumenthal
, the building, designed by architects Hermann von der Hude and Julius Hennicke, was constructed in less than a year, between October 1887 and September 1888, in the style of Renaissance Revival architecture, next to the Circus Krembser. The theater opened on 11 September 1888 with Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
's Nathan der Weise
.
of the building nextdoor, made for a difficult design. The architects designed a cupola above the podium that covers up the firewall, and the front facade with its portico
turned a street corner into a kind of vestibule. The remaining triangular outside areas were set off from the street with lattice work and gates and functioned as gardens; the remaining area in the back served an outside terrace.
The location was commercially viable; the completion of the nearby Reichstag
promised a future appreciation of land values, and the horsecar
s which passed in front of the theater made it easily accessible from all neighborhoods.
. The towers with double arcades above the staircases were probably designed with an eye on the building's appearance from afar, but also emphasized the building's character. The middle part was dominated by the stalls, while the appearance from the rear was determined by the roof of the stage.
After the show, spectators from the stalls left the theater through two separate doors on the side of the theater or through the main lobby. Spectators from the first and second rows of balconies had special exits through the staircases, so they would not have to cross the lobby again. This allowed the theater to empty quickly and permitted shorter time periods between two shows.
Wardrobes were available outside the various spectator areas. The hallways also functioned as spectator space during intermissions. For the more prominent visitors, in the stalls and the first gallery, a separate foyer
above the main lobby was allocated, a grand room, measuring 9.45 by 15.60 meter, and 6.80 meter high. During warmer seasons, doors opened up to a balcony above the vestibule and to balconies on either side of the corridors for the first gallery. Spectators in the second gallery had two bars available for beer, which also allowed access to an outside area.
, Ernst von Possart
, desired the basic dimensions of the spectator area be copied from Karl Friedrich Schinkel
's Konzerthaus Berlin
because of its good acoustics. The hall had the shape of a lengthened semi circle with a radius of 18.46 meter, with a 5-meter deep proscenium
, tapered from 13.90 to 11.50 meter. The hallways of the stalls were 1,00 meter above street level, those of the first gallery 4.70 meter, and those of the second gallery 8.40 meter. There were 1170 seats. With the exception of the left side of the first gallery, which contained the royal box
, each gallery on both sides of the proscenium had two closed boxes each.
In the stalls, there were 18 boxes with 116 seats along the outer wall. 17 rows provided seating for 350 spectators; four rows with 58 second-class seats, below the first gallery balcony, were accessible via a central corridor. The seats measured 0.80 by 0.54 meter, at the time of the opening larger even than that of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden
.
The first gallery largely consisted of boxes with a total of 140 seats. The five outside boxes on either side reached to the parapet; the ten boxes on the inside had three rows of seats in front of them ("balcony seats"), offering room for 72 spectators. The second gallery, besides the 28 seats in the proscenium boxes, offered seating in rows for 316 spectators and standing-room for 70 more.
The rococo
-style auditorium was mainly white and gold. Rear walls were colored bronze. All curtains and upholstery were blue silk.
; the third-story level housed furniture, and the fourth-story level was the scene shop
.
The stage measured 20.00 by 18.33 meters, enough for six set changes. Tiefe ausreichend für sechs Kulissen. The Fly system
was 18.00 meter above the stage. An two-part iron fire door
closed the stage from the sides.
and iron
, in hopes of minimizing the risk of fire; only the stage was made of wood
. The construction of a number of stairs in stone and the covering of the roofs and the cupola of the stage with sheet iron completed the precautions against fire. The flat roof over the rooms next to the stalls was done in cement. Lighting was electric.
The theater was covered in plaster
; only the ornaments of the outer facade were sandstone
. For the facade, architects von der Hude and Hennick were inspired by Renaissance Revival architecture. For the inside, they opted for Mannerism
, and the arena was inspired by Neorococo; in all, the plurality of styles made the theater a typical representative of Historicism
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, at Friedrich-Karl-Ufer 1 (today's Kapelle-Ufer). It opened in 1888 and was destroyed in April 1945 in a bombing raid; its ruins were demolished after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The construction of the theater, for around 900,000 Mark, was especially notable since it was the first new theater built in Berlin since the Wallner Theater (1864); in between 1964 and 1888 only renovations of old theaters and existing spaces had taken place. By order of director Oscar Blumenthal
Oscar Blumenthal
Oscar Blumenthal or Oskar Blumenthal was a German playwright and drama critic.-Biography:...
, the building, designed by architects Hermann von der Hude and Julius Hennicke, was constructed in less than a year, between October 1887 and September 1888, in the style of Renaissance Revival architecture, next to the Circus Krembser. The theater opened on 11 September 1888 with Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was a German writer, philosopher, dramatist, publicist, and art critic, and one of the most outstanding representatives of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the development of German literature...
's Nathan der Weise
Nathan der Weise
Nathan the Wise is a play by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, published in 1779. It is a fervent plea for religious tolerance...
.
Location
The oddly angled piece of land, located on a corner directly against a Stadtbahn viaduct and the firewallFirewall (construction)
A firewall is a fireproof barrier used to prevent the spread of fire between or through buildings, structures, electrical substation transformers, or within an aircraft or vehicle.- Applications :...
of the building nextdoor, made for a difficult design. The architects designed a cupola above the podium that covers up the firewall, and the front facade with its portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
turned a street corner into a kind of vestibule. The remaining triangular outside areas were set off from the street with lattice work and gates and functioned as gardens; the remaining area in the back served an outside terrace.
The location was commercially viable; the completion of the nearby Reichstag
Reichstag (building)
The Reichstag building is a historical edifice in Berlin, Germany, constructed to house the Reichstag, parliament of the German Empire. It was opened in 1894 and housed the Reichstag until 1933, when it was severely damaged in a fire. During the Nazi era, the few meetings of members of the...
promised a future appreciation of land values, and the horsecar
Horsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
s which passed in front of the theater made it easily accessible from all neighborhoods.
The building
The staircases leading to the spectators' areas were combined with the rest of the house. Its function as a theater was indicated by the facade's vestibule, the double pillars, and the gableGable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
. The towers with double arcades above the staircases were probably designed with an eye on the building's appearance from afar, but also emphasized the building's character. The middle part was dominated by the stalls, while the appearance from the rear was determined by the roof of the stage.
Front of house and other areas
Spectators entered the theater through one of three doors in the vestibule, which was equipped with a roof to protect unloading horse cars. The lobby measured 15.40 by 9.00 meters. Ticket counters were placed on either side of the lobby, with doors beside them that gave access to the second story balconies. Doors directly across from the entrance led to the stalls and the first level of balconies.After the show, spectators from the stalls left the theater through two separate doors on the side of the theater or through the main lobby. Spectators from the first and second rows of balconies had special exits through the staircases, so they would not have to cross the lobby again. This allowed the theater to empty quickly and permitted shorter time periods between two shows.
Wardrobes were available outside the various spectator areas. The hallways also functioned as spectator space during intermissions. For the more prominent visitors, in the stalls and the first gallery, a separate foyer
Foyer
A foyer or lobby is a large, vast room or complex of rooms adjacent to the auditorium...
above the main lobby was allocated, a grand room, measuring 9.45 by 15.60 meter, and 6.80 meter high. During warmer seasons, doors opened up to a balcony above the vestibule and to balconies on either side of the corridors for the first gallery. Spectators in the second gallery had two bars available for beer, which also allowed access to an outside area.
House: spectator areas
The theater's first artistic directorArtistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
, Ernst von Possart
Ernst von Possart
Ernst von Possart was a German actor and theatre director.Possart was born in Berlin and was early an actor at Breslau, Bern, and Hamburg. Connected with the Munich Court Theatre after 1864, he became the oberregisseur in 1875...
, desired the basic dimensions of the spectator area be copied from Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel was a Prussian architect, city planner, and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings.-Biography:Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of...
's Konzerthaus Berlin
Konzerthaus Berlin
The Konzerthaus Berlin is a concert hall situated on the Gendarmenmarkt square in the central Mitte district of Berlin housing the German orchestra Konzerthausorchester Berlin...
because of its good acoustics. The hall had the shape of a lengthened semi circle with a radius of 18.46 meter, with a 5-meter deep proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
, tapered from 13.90 to 11.50 meter. The hallways of the stalls were 1,00 meter above street level, those of the first gallery 4.70 meter, and those of the second gallery 8.40 meter. There were 1170 seats. With the exception of the left side of the first gallery, which contained the royal box
Box (theatre)
In theater, a box is a small, separated seating area in the auditorium for a limited number of people.Boxes are typically placed immediately to the front, side and above the level of the stage. They are often separate rooms with an open viewing area which typically seat five people or fewer. ...
, each gallery on both sides of the proscenium had two closed boxes each.
In the stalls, there were 18 boxes with 116 seats along the outer wall. 17 rows provided seating for 350 spectators; four rows with 58 second-class seats, below the first gallery balcony, were accessible via a central corridor. The seats measured 0.80 by 0.54 meter, at the time of the opening larger even than that of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Berlin State Opera
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden is a German opera company. Its permanent home is the opera house on the Unter den Linden boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin, which also hosts the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra.-Early years:...
.
The first gallery largely consisted of boxes with a total of 140 seats. The five outside boxes on either side reached to the parapet; the ten boxes on the inside had three rows of seats in front of them ("balcony seats"), offering room for 72 spectators. The second gallery, besides the 28 seats in the proscenium boxes, offered seating in rows for 316 spectators and standing-room for 70 more.
The rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
-style auditorium was mainly white and gold. Rear walls were colored bronze. All curtains and upholstery were blue silk.
Stage house and adjacent areas
The stage and adjacent areas were accessible via a ramp in the back, and through doors in the two staircases in the additions on either side. These side additions also had dressing rooms, on the ground floor. Dressing rooms for the choir and the extras were in the basement. Management was on the third floor, and costumes and props were stored on the floor above. The space behind the stage, two stories high, served as storage for the setsScenic design
Scenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A...
; the third-story level housed furniture, and the fourth-story level was the scene shop
Scene shop
A scenery shop or scene shop is a specialized workshop found in many medium or large theaters, as well as many educational theatre settings. The primary function of a scene shop is to fabricate and assemble the flats, platforms, scenery wagons, and other scenic pieces required for a performance...
.
The stage measured 20.00 by 18.33 meters, enough for six set changes. Tiefe ausreichend für sechs Kulissen. The Fly system
Fly system
A fly system, flying system or theatrical rigging system, is a system of lines , blocks , counterweights and related devices within a theatre that enable a stage crew to quickly, quietly and safely fly components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and, sometimes, people...
was 18.00 meter above the stage. An two-part iron fire door
Fire door
A fire door is a door with a fire-resistance rating used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce the spread of fire or smoke between compartments and to enable safe egress from a building or structure or ship...
closed the stage from the sides.
Construction and facade
The building was constructed mainly from brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, in hopes of minimizing the risk of fire; only the stage was made of wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
. The construction of a number of stairs in stone and the covering of the roofs and the cupola of the stage with sheet iron completed the precautions against fire. The flat roof over the rooms next to the stalls was done in cement. Lighting was electric.
The theater was covered in plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
; only the ornaments of the outer facade were sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
. For the facade, architects von der Hude and Hennick were inspired by Renaissance Revival architecture. For the inside, they opted for Mannerism
Mannerism
Mannerism is a period of European art that emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. It lasted until about 1580 in Italy, when a more Baroque style began to replace it, but Northern Mannerism continued into the early 17th century throughout much of Europe...
, and the arena was inspired by Neorococo; in all, the plurality of styles made the theater a typical representative of Historicism
Historicism (art)
Historicism refers to artistic styles that draw their inspiration from copying historic styles or artisans. After neo-classicism, which could itself be considered a historicist movement, the 19th century saw a new historicist phase marked by a return to a more ancient classicism, in particular in...
.
Directors
- Oscar BlumenthalOscar BlumenthalOscar Blumenthal or Oskar Blumenthal was a German playwright and drama critic.-Biography:...
(1888–1897) - Otto Neumann-Hofer (1897–1904)
- Otto BrahmOtto BrahmOtto Brahm was a German drama and literary critic, theatre manager and director. His productions were noted for being accurate and realistic. He was involved in the foundation of the progressive Freie Bühne company, of which he became president and producer...
(1905–1912) - Victor Barnowsky (1913–1924)
- Alfred Rotter, Fritz Rotter (1924–1925)
- Arthur Hellmer (1925–1926)
- Heinz Saltenburg (1926–1929)
- Collective management through the Group of young actors (1929–1930)
- Heinz Saltenburg (1930–1931)
- Robert Klein (1931–1932)
- Alfred Rotter, Fritz Rotter (1932–1933)
- Richard Handwerk (1934–1939)
- Hansheinrich Dransmann (1939–1943)
- Paul Rose (from 1943 merging with the Rose Theatre)
Premieres
The following pieces were among the ones first performed in the Lessing Theater:- Gerhart HauptmannGerhart HauptmannGerhart Hauptmann was a German dramatist and novelist who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1912.-Life and work:...
: Vor Sonnenaufgang (20 October 1889) - August StrindbergAugust StrindbergJohan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
: Spiele mit dem Feuer (December 1893) - Arno HolzArno HolzArno Holz was a German naturalist poet and dramatist. He is best known for his poetry collection Phantasus .-Life and Works:...
und Oskar JerschkeOskar JerschkeOskar Jerschke was a German playwright and collaborator of Arno Holz.He was the sone of a military engineer and raised in the rectory of his Uncle until his father settled in Strassburg...
: Traumulus (24 September 1904) - Arthur SchnitzlerArthur SchnitzlerDr. Arthur Schnitzler was an Austrian author and dramatist.- Biography :Arthur Schnitzler, son of a prominent Hungarian-Jewish laryngologist Johann Schnitzler and Luise Markbreiter , was born in Praterstraße 16, Leopoldstadt, Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian...
: Anatol (3 December 1910, simultaneous with premiere in Wiener VolkstheaterVolkstheater, ViennaThe Volkstheater in Vienna was founded in 1889 by request of the citizens of Vienna, amongst them the dramatist Ludwig Anzengruber and the furniture manufacturer Thonet, in order to offer a popular counter weight to the Hofburgtheater...
) - Gerhart Hauptmann: Die RattenDie RattenDie Ratten is a 1955 West German drama film directed by Robert Siodmak. It is an adaptation of the play by Gerhart Hauptmann which transferred the story in the early fifties, shortly after the Second World War...
(13 January 1911) - Franz WerfelFranz WerfelFranz Werfel was an Austrian-Bohemian novelist, playwright, and poet.- Biography :Born in Prague , Werfel was the first of three children of a wealthy manufacturer of gloves and leather goods. His mother, Albine Kussi, was the daughter of a mill owner...
: Die Troerinnen des Euripides (22 April 1916) - Carl ZuckmayerCarl ZuckmayerCarl Zuckmayer was a German writer and playwright.-Biography:Born in Nackenheim in Rheinhessen, he was four years old when his family moved to Mainz. With the outbreak of World War I, he finished school with a facilitated "emergency"-Abitur and volunteered for military service...
: Schinderhannes (13 Oktober 1927) - Carl Zuckmayer: Katharina Knie (21 December 1928)
- Friedrich Wolf: Cyankali (6 September 1929)