Independent theatre
12 places in Cologne
Bühne der Kulturen
since 1983Intercultural theatre in Cologne's Ehrenfeld district, founded in 1983 as the Turkish Arkadaş Theater — closed its doors on 31 July 2017.
Comedia Theater
Independent children's and youth theatre in a former Cologne fire station — with its own evening programme of cabaret, music and theatre for adults.
D.a.S. Theater
since 1990Independent Cologne theatre now staging a single show: 'You Are My Mother' about dementia — one performer plays both mother and son.
Kumede
Cologne theatre troupe performing exclusively in the Kölsch dialect since 1947 — today at the Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz.
Millowitsch-Theater / Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz
In 1953 this stage hosted Germany's first live TV broadcast of a theatre play — the Millowitsch family's dialect theatre, now the Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz.
Rathenauplatz
Cologne's leafy Südstadt park with a plane-tree avenue, a popular beer garden, and a name that mirrors Germany's turbulent 20th century.
Senftöpfchen
Cologne's beloved cabaret and variety theatre — a launchpad for comedy talent since the 1970s with a reputation that reaches far beyond Germany.
Studiobühne Köln
Germany's oldest university theatre since 1920 — an independent, experimental performance space with a film workshop at the University of Cologne.
Theater der Keller
Cologne's oldest private theatre, founded in 1955 — contemporary programme with many world premieres and its own acting school.
Theater im Bauturm
Independent backyard theatre in the Belgisches Viertel: freshly told classics and original productions with a Cologne twist and social commentary.
Theater Tiefrot
Private chamber theatre in Cologne's Altstadt-Nord with up to 80 seats — an off-theatre stage balancing literary classics and political drama.
