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The Rudolstadt Theater: "Goethe's sausage stand" is what it has been affectionately known as for more than 200 years because Goethe was its first director.
However, its prominent history has not prevented this small theater from often being overlooked.
From time to time, it has been on the brink of closure, no longer has its own ensemble or is used by other theaters.
But time and again it has fought its way free by making a name for itself.
The theater opened in 1793, making it one of the oldest German institutions of its kind. Goethe ran the Rudolstadt theater from Weimar until 1803 and showed productions from the Weimar court theater here, which is why Rudolstadt was also known as "Little Weimar" at the time.
In 1797, Goethe "discovered" the young Friedrich Schiller in Rudolstadt.
He not only enjoys female acquaintances in Rudolstadt, but also writes his works "The Robbers" and "Don Karlos" here - which are regularly performed in Rudolstadt, occasionally even in the presence of the author.
Following this early heyday, the Rudolstadt Theater remained quiet for a long time.
It was not until 1953 that things really got going again.
A permanent ensemble is hired and the mass influx of workers for the Maxhütte steelworks brings thousands of new spectators to Rudolstadt.
In 1958, the theater is finally renovated, because the workers in the former princely town should have culture!
In the mid-1970s, under the direction of Klaus Fiedler, the theater becomes political: critical topics are brought to the stage, contemporary productions are staged and much is discussed.
While the "leaden times" spread more and more across the country, the Rudolstadt theater team tried to break out.
The theater experiences the reunification period under the direction of Axel Vornam.
And as the protest made its way through the country in 1989, the theater became a center of public debate in Rudolstadt.
During this time, the theater's small auditorium is permanently overcrowded.
Shortly afterwards, it will suddenly be permanently empty.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification, the people of Rudolstadt initially focused on other leisure activities.
But gradually, under the renewed management of Axel Vornam (2003-2008), the people of Rudolstadt rediscovered their love for "their" theater.
Theater Rudolstadt is lively, successful and firmly anchored in the town - a success story that has continued since the 2008/2009 season under Steffen Mensching.
First broadcast: Monday, September 01, 2008, 7 p.m., ZDFtheaterkanal.
