Only about 180 metres separate our hotel from the Großes Haus (main house) of Theater Gera, a magnificent building from 1902 with a theatre and a concert hall under one roof. As part of Theater Altenburg Gera, it is the only five-division theatre in Thuringia – your evening begins practically on our doorstep.
From the Promenaden Hotel am Theater you reach Theaterplatz in about two minutes on foot – roughly 180 metres, no tram or taxi needed. The Großes Haus with its theatre auditorium and concert hall, as well as the Bühne am Park, stand at Theaterplatz 1 on the edge of the Küchengarten. If you arrive by car, you will find parking right by the theatre, along Paul-Felix-Straße and at the Hofwiesenpark car park.
Directions from the hotel →
Designed by Heinrich Seeling in 1902, the theatre auditorium is the stage for major premieres in opera, operetta, musicals, drama and ballet. A ceiling of golden leaf tendrils and a magnificent chandelier define the room. Since new seating was installed in the summer of 1999, it offers 552 seats.
A theatre and a concert hall under one roof – unique at the time of construction and a tribute to the standing of the Reuss Court Orchestra. Stalls, an ornate gallery and boxes, stucco by the Bieber brothers with Art Nouveau influences and 14 chandeliers create a festive setting. The hall's particular pride is its Sauer organ; this is where the Philharmonic Concerts are performed.
The studio stage next to the Großes Haus was designed by Gera architect Klaus Sorger and opened on 17 December 2006. Exposed technology, variable platforms and a glass façade facing the Küchengarten make it the place for intimate drama, world premieres, youth productions and song recitals.
Since 1967, the Puppet Theatre has performed in a former princely Reuss drill hall at Gustav-Hennig-Platz 5 in the city centre. After extensive renovation it reopened on 20 September 2025 – with step-free access, an induction hearing loop, a new puppet workshop and a rehearsal stage. The programme features puppet, figure and object theatre for children, families and adults.
Built in 1866, the Tonhalle at Clara-Zetkin-Straße 1 was Gera's largest concert and ballroom before 1902. Since its renovation in 2005/06, the small studio stage has been home to the TheaterFABRIK for community and youth theatre.
The theatre's participation stage on Clara-Zetkin-Straße. Children from the age of eight (FLOHBÜHNE), teenagers (TheaterLABOR) and adults (ImproBühne, StadtBühne) rehearse here all year round – theatre to join in with, not only to watch.
Fotos der Spielstätten: Ronny Ristok / Theater Altenburg Gera
Opera, operetta and musicals with a resident ensemble of soloists, an opera chorus and the Philharmonic Orchestra. The production „Die toten Augen“ (The Dead Eyes) by Eugen d’Albert, directed by Kay Kuntze, won the OPER! AWARD 2026 for „Best Rediscovery“.
The drama ensemble under drama director Manuel Kressin presents classics, comedies and numerous world premieres. „Ich hasse Menschen“ (I Hate People) was nominated for the DER FAUST theatre award.
Its roots go back to the Gera Ballet founded in 1922; since 2013 the company has held the title Thüringer Staatsballett and is the largest ballet company in Thuringia. Since 2018/19, a trainee programme has nurtured young dancers.
The orchestra continues the tradition of the Reuss Court Orchestra founded in 1888 and has been led by General Music Director Ruben Gazarian since 2020. It performs the Philharmonic Concerts in the concert hall and accompanies opera and ballet; the Reußisches Kammerorchester is its chamber ensemble.
A dedicated ensemble performs for children and adults alike – for example „Der Schimmelreiter“ (The Rider on the White Horse) after Theodor Storm. Its home is the Puppentheater on Gustav-Hennig-Platz, renovated and reopened in 2025.
A selection, as of September 2026. Current programme and tickets from the theatre.
Drama – comedy by Yasmina Reza · Großes Haus
Musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber · Bühne am Park
Opera by Giuseppe Verdi · Großes Haus
Drama and puppetry after Witold Gombrowicz · Großes Haus
Ballet to music by Tchaikovsky · Bühne am Park
Ballet after Goethe · Großes Haus
Comic opera by Paul Hindemith · Großes Haus
Musical · Großes Haus
Ballet to music by Tchaikovsky · Großes Haus
Opera by Detlev Glanert · Großes Haus
A committee to promote the building of a princely theatre and concert hall launches an architectural competition; in 1899 the Berlin theatre architect Heinrich Seeling receives the commission.
Built in the princely Küchengarten – funded largely by donations from the citizens of Gera, supplemented by Heinrich XIV Reuss Younger Line – the Princely Court Theatre opens on 18 October, one of the most technically advanced theatres of its day.
The Court Theatre becomes the Reuss State Theatre; in the 1925/26 season, under general director Walter Bruno Iltz, a record-breaking 240,832 spectators attend.
The air raid of 6 April destroys the scenery building. As early as 15 September the theatre reopens with Mozart's „Die Hochzeit des Figaro“ (The Marriage of Figaro), from November as „Bühnen der Stadt Gera“ (Gera City Stages).
A fire in the stage house on 16 April requires repairs; by September the theatre is performing again.
On 21 December the new organ by Sauer of Frankfurt (Oder) is consecrated in the concert hall; at the same time the hall is restored towards its original state.
Merger with the Landestheater Altenburg; the ceiling paintings of the concert hall are restored under head of the paint shop Rolf Röder.
On 17 December the Bühne am Park opens as a new studio stage next to the Großes Haus.
After extensive renovation and modernisation costing €23.45 million, the Großes Haus celebrates its reopening with festival weeks, including „Tosca“, „Maria Stuart“ and Mahler's Symphony No. 2.
Since August the theatre has been called Theater Altenburg Gera (previously TPT Theater&Philharmonie Thüringen).
On 20 September the comprehensively renovated Puppentheater reopens its doors.
Heinrich Seeling designed a T-shaped building that unites theatre and concert hall. The façade combines Neo-Renaissance with elements of Classicism and Art Nouveau; busts of Schiller and Goethe, the inscription „MUSIS SACRUM“ and mythological figures such as a genius on a sphinx, a Medusa head, Melpomene and a bacchante adorn the building.
In the theatre auditorium, stucco, gilded ornaments, a ceiling of golden leaf tendrils and a large chandelier welcome the audience. The concert hall, with its stalls, gallery and boxes, impresses with Art Nouveau stucco by the Berlin Bieber brothers, 14 chandeliers and the 1977 Sauer organ.
As early as 1902, the stage and lighting technology was considered exceptionally advanced; between 2005 and 2007 the building was technically modernised. The theatre stands in the former princely Küchengarten, overlooking the Baroque Orangerie in the Untermhaus district.
From your room to your seat in about two minutes: no hunting for parking, no taxi – and after the final applause you are back in no time.
Thanks to our 24/7 check-in service you can arrive at your leisure – even if you come straight from the performance or late in the evening.
When you book directly on our website, breakfast is already included – the perfect start to the day after a long evening at the theatre.
Theaterplatz 1, 07548 Gera. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00–17:00, Thursday 10:00–18:00. Phone 0365 8279105, email kasse@theater-altenburg-gera.de. Theatre gift vouchers are also available here.
The evening box offices open one hour before the performance and sell tickets for that performance. You can book around the clock in the web shop at theater-altenburg-gera.de.
Pupils and students can buy remaining tickets for 6–9 euros from 15 minutes before the start, subject to availability. With the Theaterpass for everyone up to 27, you get five performances for 25 euros.
The foyer and stalls of the theatre auditorium and concert hall as well as the Bühne am Park are wheelchair accessible; the Puppentheater offers step-free access and an induction hearing loop. Details on wheelchair spaces are available from the box office.
Guided tours of the Großes Haus for groups of 10 or more, approx. 45–60 minutes, 6 euros per person, children 3 euros – book by email at yasin.baig@theater-altenburg-gera.de. The Puppentheater offers tours for groups of 20 or more (ages 6 and up); enquiries to susanne.koschig@theater-altenburg-gera.de.
As of September 2026 – opening hours and prices subject to change.
Secure your tickets and book your room directly with us – with breakfast included and the shortest route to the theatre.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, licences as stated.
