Senftöpfchen
Cologne's beloved cabaret and variety theatre — a launchpad for comedy talent since the 1970s with a reputation that reaches far beyond Germany.
The Senftöpfchen is a cabaret and variety theatre in Cologne's Old Town whose reputation stretches well beyond Germany. Since the 1970s, the intimate venue has helped launch countless careers in German cabaret and comedy.
At a Glance
- Type
- Cabaret and variety theatre
- District
- Cologne Old Town (Altstadt-Nord, city centre)
- Founded
- 1959, opened on 5 March in Pipinstraße
- Since 1986
- located in Große Neugasse
- Auditorium (since 1986)
- 174 seats across 94 m² (stalls and balcony), 35 m² stage
- Funding
- entirely without public subsidy
The Senftöpfchen was the birthplace of Alfred Biolek's TV talk show: in 1973 he premiered his new format „Wer kommt, kommt vor" there – Alexandra Kassen agreed to it even though she had no idea what a talk show was. The WDR later picked up the format as „Kölner Treff", which still airs today.
From Munich's "Stachelschwein" to Cologne
Fred and Alexandra Kassen had previously run the artists' bar "Stachelschwein" in Munich-Schwabing, the milieu from which the renowned Münchner Lach- und Schießgesellschaft emerged. In February 1959 they moved to Cologne, bringing a small ensemble with them. The city had seven theatres at the time but no cabaret — a gap they filled by opening the Senftöpfchen on 5 March 1959. The concept was a small theatre of current affairs, irony, satire and social criticism; the name (roughly "little mustard pot") captures that sharp, piquant spirit. Fred Kassen served simultaneously as lyricist, composer, director, pianist and artistic director.
A Launchpad for Talent
After Fred Kassen's death in 1972, Alexandra Kassen continued his work and made nurturing emerging talent the theatre's central mission. The Senftöpfchen became an early stage for Harald Schmidt, Jürgen von der Lippe and Dieter Nuhr, among others. In November 1976, Wolf Biermann performed here shortly after his expulsion from East Germany. That same year, Alfred Biolek's live talk-show format — first trialled here in 1973 — was adopted by WDR as "Kölner Treff".
Early Programming
The stage featured literary and political cabaret, Helen Vita's provocative "Chansons extra-ordinaire", and from 1976 the then-daring drag revue "Folies Parisiennes". Notable performers included Dieter Hildebrandt and Hanns Dieter Hüsch. In 1975, Cologne Carnival bands Bläck Fööss and Höhner gave concerts here.
Today
In 1986 the theatre moved to its current home in Große Neugasse. It continues to host cabaret, comedy, chanson evenings and variety performances.
Timeline
- 1955Kassens open the Stachelschwein artists' bar in Munich-Schwabing
- 1958Fred Kassen sells the programme of the Münchner Lach- und Schießgesellschaft
- 1959Senftöpfchen opens on 5 March in Pipinstraße, Cologne
- 1972Fred Kassen dies; Alexandra Kassen continues running the theatre
- 1973Alfred Biolek launches live talk show at the Senftöpfchen
- 1976Wolf Biermann performs after being expatriated from East Germany
- 1986Theatre relocates to Große Neugasse (174 seats, 35 m² stage)
- 2005Stephan Masur starts producing his variety show at the Senftöpfchen
Gallery
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Große Neugasse 2-4
50667 Köln
Hours
Mo: 17:00–20:00
Di: 17:00–20:00
Mi: 17:00–20:00
Do: 17:00–20:00
Fr: 17:00–20:00
Sa: 17:00–20:00
So: 17:00–20:00
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Sources & links
- Official website
- Official Instagram (@senftoepfchen_theater)
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-06-24)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-06-24, rev 243270309)
- Official website (retrieved 2026-06-24)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-27
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