Schaubude Berlin

Schaubude Berlin on Greifswalder Straße: Puppet Theater in an Old Department Store

Schaubude Berlin is located in a listed building on Greifswalder Straße, which was built in 1929 as a Karstadt department store. Later, a cinema moved in, from 1972 the state puppet theater Berlin played here, and since 1993 the house has belonged to the newly founded Schaubude. The Greifswalder Straße S-Bahn station with lines S8, S41, S42, and S85 is directly opposite, and tram M4 also stops at the door. Four parking spaces for people with disabilities are available in front of the swimming pool on Lilli-Hennoch-Straße, about 500 meters away.

Access to the interior is via a staircase with six steps; those with limited mobility can take the step-free path via the stage entrance and will be met by staff in the foyer. Wheelchair spaces with accompanying seats can be reserved by phone, and an accessible toilet is located to the left of the theater hall. The hall itself is manageable, so children can easily recognize the figures on stage even from the back rows.

Puppet and Object Theater for Children at Schaubude Berlin

Schaubude Berlin is a production house for puppet and object theater. Thus, puppets, materials, and everyday objects are at the center of the stage, not primarily actors. Silvia Brendenal opened the house for object theater between 1997 and 2015; since 2015, Tim Sandweg has directed Schaubude and has expanded the program to include digital media, robotics, and hybrid forms. The supporting organization is Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH.

A dedicated children’s program runs weekly, complemented by guest performances, co-productions, and an annual in-house production. Many plays are aimed at children aged three or four and last around 45 minutes, precisely as long as toddlers can watch attentively. Babies up to six months old can enter for free, group discounts are available upon request for ten or more people, and remaining tickets cost 3 Euros plus a fee with proof of eligibility. Once a year, the house hosts the international festival „Theater der Dinge”, each with its own annual theme.