Admiralspalast

Admiralspalast is a historic theatre and entertainment venue on Friedrichstraße in Berlin's Mitte district. The present building opened in 1910 as part of a large leisure complex developed on the former site of the Admiralsgarten bath house, which had been established in the nineteenth century. Its original facilities extended well beyond theatrical performance: the complex included an ice-skating rink, public baths, bowling alleys, a café and a cinema that operated around the clock. This combination made the Admiralspalast an early example of an integrated urban amusement destination rather than a theatre devoted to a single artistic discipline. After the First World War, the venue increasingly became associated with stage revues and operettas. One early revue presented there was Walter Kollo's “Drunter und drüber.” The building's programming reflected Berlin's role as a major European centre for popular entertainment, combining music, comedy, spectacle and theatrical performance. Its large auditorium, now configured with approximately 1,756 seats, helped it function as a substantial public performance venue while retaining the architectural and cultural character of a pre-Second World War Berlin variety theatre. The building survived the Second World War with comparatively limited damage. That circumstance gave it an important temporary role after the war, when it hosted the Berlin State Opera while the State Opera House was being reconstructed. In April 1946, the Admiralspalast also became the site of a major political meeting: on April 21 and 22, the Social Democratic Party and Communist Party in the Soviet occupation zone held a convention there that resulted in their merger into the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. The venue therefore occupies a place not only in Berlin's theatre history but also in the political history of post-war East Germany. Offices of the GDR Union of Journalists were later located inside the building. The performance tradition continued during the East German period under the name Metropol-Theater, with revues and operettas remaining central to its identity. The Metropol-Theater was ultimately discontinued, and the venue closed in 1997. Its cultural importance was formally recognized in 2002, when the Berlin Senate placed the building under heritage protection. In 2003, successful bidders took over the still-closed property and undertook extensive renovation work intended to restore it for contemporary use while preserving its historical character. Admiralspalast reopened on August 11, 2006, with a production of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's “The Threepenny Opera” directed by Klaus Maria Brandauer. The reopening returned the building to use as a major Berlin theatre and event location. Today, the Admiralspalast is best understood as a venue brand rather than a conventional consumer-goods brand: its offering consists of theatrical productions, concerts, revues, cultural events and other large-scale performances. Its differentiation rests on its central Friedrichstraße location, protected historic fabric, substantial auditorium and continuity with Berlin's pre-war variety-theatre tradition.

Admiralspalast stands on Friedrichstraße in Berlin's Mitte district and traces its identity to a large entertainment complex opened in 1910. The complex was built on the former site of the Admiralsgarten bath house, which dated from the nineteenth century. Rather than operating solely as a theatre, the original Admiralspalast combined several leisure functions: an ice-skating rink, public baths, bowling alleys, a café and a cinema open day and night. This broad mix reflected the growth of commercial urban amusement in Berlin and gave the building a destination character from the outset. During the period after the First World War, the venue moved toward theatrical entertainment, especially revues and operettas. Walter Kollo's revue “Drunter und drüber” was among the productions associated with this phase. The building became part of Berlin's variety and popular-theatre culture, a role reinforced by its substantial auditorium. The present theatre has approximately 1,756 seats and is one of the relatively few preserved pre-Second World War variety venues in Berlin. The building's survival during the Second World War shaped its later history. It sustained comparatively little damage and was consequently used by the Berlin State Opera while the State Opera House underwent reconstruction. Its post-war significance was also political. On April 21 and 22, 1946, delegates of the Social Democratic Party and Communist Party in the Soviet occupation zone met at the Admiralspalast for a convention that produced their merger into the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. The GDR Union of Journalists also maintained offices inside the building, adding an institutional dimension to its cultural role. The venue continued presenting revues and operettas under the name Metropol-Theater. That identity lasted through the East German period and beyond, but the theatre was eventually discontinued and the building closed in 1997. The closure did not end its historical importance. In 2002, the Berlin Senate designated the structure a protected cultural landmark, formally recognizing its architectural and cultural value. In 2003, successful bidders took over the still-closed property and began extensive renovation. The project sought to make the building viable for modern performance and event use while retaining its historic character. The renovated venue reopened on August 11, 2006, with Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera, directed by Klaus Maria Brandauer. The choice of a major German-language theatrical work signaled a return to the building's stage tradition. Since reopening, Admiralspalast has operated as a multi-purpose theatre and event venue. Its activities can include stage productions, concerts, revues, operettas and other cultural or private events. The brand's principal assets are its central Berlin location, protected historic building, large auditorium and association with the city's long-running entertainment culture. Unlike a product brand, Admiralspalast is experienced through programming and place: its reputation depends on the quality and variety of events presented in a historically distinctive venue.

• 2006

  Reopening after renovation

  [1]Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org

  The theatre reopened on August 11 with a production of The Threepenny Opera directed by Klaus Maria Brandauer.

• 2003

  Takeover and renovation

  [1]Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org

  New successful bidders took over the closed property and commenced extensive renovation work.

• 2002

  Cultural landmark designation

  [1]Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org

  The Berlin Senate placed the building under heritage protection.

• 1997

  Closure of the Metropol-Theater

  [1]Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org

  The Metropol-Theater operation was discontinued and the building closed.

• 1955

  Berlin State Opera leaves temporary premises

  [1]Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org

  The Berlin State Opera's temporary use of the building ended as reconstruction of its own opera house was completed.

• 1946

  Convention leading to formation of the Socialist Unity Party

  [1]Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org

  The Admiralspalast hosted the April convention at which the Social Democratic and Communist parties in the Soviet occupation zone merged.

• 1910

  Opening of the Admiralspalast complex

  [1]Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org

  The leisure complex opened on the former site of the Admiralsgarten bath house, incorporating entertainment, bathing, dining and cinema facilities.

• Shift toward revues and operettas

  [1]Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org

  After the First World War, the venue became increasingly identified with revues and operettas.

A heritage Berlin performance venue combining historic architecture and variety-theatre tradition with contemporary theatre, concert and event programming.

• Performing arts

  Theatre productions

  The venue presents staged dramatic and musical productions in its principal auditorium. Its reopening programme used The Threepenny Opera to reconnect the restored building with German-language theatre and its historical performance identity.

• Musical theatre

  Revues and operettas

  Revues and operettas were central to the Admiralspalast's identity after the First World War and remained important under the Metropol-Theater name. These forms link the venue to Berlin's historic popular-entertainment and variety traditions.

• Live entertainment · 2006

  Concerts and live events

  The restored Admiralspalast functions as a multi-purpose event venue capable of hosting concerts and other large public performances. Its central location and approximately 1,756-seat auditorium support both cultural programming and event use.

• 2006

  Reopening with The Threepenny OperaProduct launch

  Background

  The venue returned to operation after a period of closure and extensive renovation.

  Action taken

  Admiralspalast reopened on August 11 with The Threepenny Opera, directed by Klaus Maria Brandauer.

  Aftermath

  The reopening re-established the building as a major Berlin theatre and event location.

  Source

• 2003

  Renovation and conversion for renewed public useStrategy

  Background

  The building had been closed since the discontinuation of the Metropol-Theater in 1997, while its historical importance was later reinforced by heritage protection.

  Action taken

  New successful bidders took over the property and carried out extensive renovations intended to restore it as a contemporary theatre and event venue.

  Aftermath

  The renovated Admiralspalast reopened in 2006 and resumed large-scale cultural programming.

  Source

1. 1Admiralspalasten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Admiralspalast official websiteadmiralspalast.de