Duisburg’s theater scene includes a fine opera, the state theater, and a philharmonic orchestra.
And don’t forget about the movies! There’s a communal theater for locally-produced films, as well as a large cinema boasting all the latest blockbuster movies!
Oper am Rhein (Opera on the Rhine)
Like any proper German city, Duisburg has its own venerable opera tradition. It also boasts being the largest company of its kind in the country, as it is paired with Düsseldorf.
Opera on the Rhine (Neckarstraße 1) regularly puts on both new and classic performances. A ticket here will let you watch anything from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” to Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” to Franz Lehar’s “The Merry Widow.” Lovers of fine theater and opera will not be disappointed.
Duisburg Theatre
The Duisburg theater company, Duisburg Theatre (Neckarstraße 1) regularly features ballet and dramatic performances. Some past shows include works by the famous Friedrich Schiller, the always-popular William Shakespeare and other classic pieces.
Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra
The Duisburg Philharmonic is the accompanying music to the Opera on the Rhine performances. Founded in 1877, they are currently headquartered in the Mercatorhalle Duisburg im CityPalais (König-Heinrich-Platz).
The orchestra was destroyed during the bombing of the Second World War but began its second life in 1971 under the care of Georg Ludwig Jochum. These days, you’re likely to hear the group playing the works of Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Stravinsky or Bach.
Filmforum Duisburg
This Duisburg theater, the Filmforum (Dellplatz 16), is one of the oldest communal cinemas in Germany. Josef Krings was the founder of this cinema in 1970, when he was the chair of the Culture Committee. (He was later mayor of the town.)
In 1980 the Filmforum moved to its present location and is now the host of two major events, Duisburg Film Week and the International Amateur Film Festival.
UCI Kinowelt
The UCI Kinowelt (Neudorfer Straße 36-40) is the among the best cinemas in town. With its prime location near the train station and its interesting architectural design — not to mention the 2,000 plus seats and 8 movie screens — this is where you’ll want to watch the latest movies.
Many of the blockbuster films are shown in their original language, but be sure to check before you buy your ticket!
