Wuppertal theaters are plentiful because it’s a classy city filled with high-end culture.
You’ll find the typical Opera House, Playhouse and Symphony Orchestra here. There is also a Marionette Theater and the home theater of the famous dance-choreographer and Wuppertal resident Pina Bausch.
Opera House
No German cultural city is complete without its own opera house, and Wuppertal is no exception. The Wuppertal Opera (Kurt-Drees-Straße 4) was built in 1905 but has very recently been restored and reconstructed in a 1950s chic style.
A night out at this beloved Wuppertal theater and cultural institution is always memorable. Some past performances include Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Monteverdi’s Return of Ulysses and Donizetti’s Elixir of Love.
Schauspielhaus
This Wuppertal theater is affiliated with the previously-mentioned Opera House. The Schauspielhaus (Bundesallee 260) features a small venue of about 135 seats for more intimate performances. The program consists of both classic plays, like Homer’s Odyssey, to more modern tales, such as Douglas Adam’s sci-fi cult hit, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Pina Bausch Dance Theater
This Wuppertal theater is named for the city’s famous daughter, the dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch. The eponymous theater is world-famous because of the fame and importance of its founder.
Bausch was a pioneer of the German Tanztheater movement, which was partly expressionist dance combined with more dramatic flair. Bausch died in her hometown in June 2009, but her partner, Ronald Kay and their son Rolf are keeping her dance traditions alive.
Müllers Marionette Theater
This Wuppertal theater is a true delight. The Müllers Marionettentheater (Neuenteich 80) was founded in 1983 by Ursula and Günther Weissenborn.
It performs over thirty plays each year, which range from fun children’s tales to more serious stories from world literature. Come see the marionettes as they perform a Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, or a Shakespearean drama at this always-diverting theater.
Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra
The Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra is another cultural landmark of the city. In its 150-year history it has hosted such preeminent musicians as Brahms, Schumann and Bruch.
You can catch one of their memorable performances at the main venue of Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal (Johannisberg 40) when they are not traveling around the world.
CinemaxX
For the latest films, head to the CinemaxX (Bundesallee) in Wuppertal. You’ll find the big blockbusters here, as well as locally-made films.
