Vaganten Bühne

It's hard to overlook the magnificent Theater des Westens on Kantstraße. But, if you take a closer look, you'll find a theatrical surprise or two, including the home of Vagante Bühne in the basement level of Delphi House since 1956.

The family-owned Vagante Bühne was founded in post-war Berlin by Horst Behrend and Günter Rutenborn. At first, the company did not have a fixed home and it performed in both the eastern and western zones of the divided city. The name, which means "vagrant theatre", dates back to those uncertain times and also hearkens back to medieval minstrels who travelled from place to place.

Today, Vagante Bühne makes its home on Kantstraße and is managed by Jens-Peter Behrend. The programme focuses on comedies and works by modern masters. The always-popular Compleate Works of William Shakespeare (in 90 Minutes!) has already been performed here more than 1,000 times. The repertoire also includes socially critical works by contemporary authors. A look at the repertoire of recent years shows a keen eye for  current and difficult subjects.

Theater pedagogy at Vagante Bühne

With its modern stagings of classical pieces and willingness to take a critical view of social problems, Vagante Bühne has long been popular with students. The theatre helps promote this by providing supporting materials for the performances and leading audience discussions.

Tickets can be purchased by phone or by email or directly on the theatre's website. Ticket prices run between €14 and 20; a bit more for certain exceptional pieces.
The theatre is just a few blocks from the major Zoologischer Garten station, reached by many S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and bus lines.

 

Opening hours