Max Reinhardt’s expressionist masterpiece transformed a 19th-century market hall into Berlin’s most daring revue theatre, only to be erased by history and demolished after the war.
At a glance
The Großes Schauspielhaus (Great Playhouse) was a revue theatre in the Mitte district of Berlin. Founded in 1919 by the Deutsches Nationaltheater AG—Max Reinhardt’s production company—it was created through Hans Poelzig’s radical expressionist renovation of an existing market hall. The building operated under several identities across two regimes before its demolition in 1985.
History
Max Reinhardt established the theatre in 1919 as a vehicle for bold new entertainment. Following the Nazi seizure of power, the theatre was commandeered by the German Labour Front, renamed Theater des Volkes (‘Theatre of the People’), and stripped of its expressionist ornamentation. After the Second World War, Soviet occupation authorities reestablished it as a variety venue and eventually renamed it Friedrichstadt-Palast. The original building closed in 1980 and was demolished five years later. A successor theatre bearing the same name continues today.
What you see
Hans Poelzig’s 1919 renovation was a defining moment in expressionist theatre design. He transformed a utilitarian 19th-century market hall into an avant-garde performance space. The Nazi regime’s later removal of expressionist decorative elements fundamentally altered the building’s character, stripping it of Poelzig’s artistic vision.
Cultural significance
The Großes Schauspielhaus represented the ambitions of Weimar-era modernism under Reinhardt’s visionary direction. Its destruction and reinvention under successive regimes reflects Berlin’s turbulent 20th-century history. Though the original building no longer stands, the Friedrichstadt-Palast that carries forward its name remains a symbol of cultural continuity in the city.
Key facts
- Country: Germany
- City: Berlin, Mitte district
- Coordinates: 52.52°N, 13.39°E
- Founded: 1919
- Architect: Hans Poelzig
- Closed: 1980
- Demolished: 1985
Practical information & getting there
The original Großes Schauspielhaus no longer exists. However, the modern Friedrichstadt-Palast theatre, which preserves the legacy of the original venue, operates in Berlin-Mitte and welcomes visitors.
Sources & resources
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