Ruhrbühne Witten

Ruhrbühne Witten e.V. is a non-profit amateur theatre association based in Witten, Germany, near the border with Bochum. It was founded on 10 January 1926 as the theatre association "Waldesrose" by members of two theatre clubs meeting at the Bochum establishment "Lueg" in Papenholz. After being forced to suspend activities in 1935 during the Nazi era, it resumed in 1948 and was renamed "Ruhrbühne Witten" on 12 August 1967. The association has its own venue at Bochumer Str. 10a, a converted former Rudolf Steiner school building purchased from the city of Witten in 2010, featuring a 99-seat theatre hall, a studio stage for about 40 people, and an outdoor stage opened in 2013. Its repertoire includes comedies, crime plays, musical revues, readings and children's plays, and it is a member of the BDAT. In 2019 it had 117 members aged 3 to 97, and it stages two adult plays and a Christmas fairy tale each year, with costumes, props, sets and decorations made in-house. The 2026 season includes Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" and an adaptation of Otfried Preußler's "The Little Witch". The association is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.

The association was founded on 10 January 1926 as the theatre association "Waldesrose" by members of two theatre clubs at the Bochum establishment "Lueg" in Papenholz. Of the seven founders, only two names are known today: Heinrich Beckhaus and August Bach. Over the years, "Waldesrose" developed into a well-known and theatrically accomplished group. During the Nazi era, when smaller associations were denied the right to exist, the club had to cease theatre work in 1935. In 1948, Alfred Haselhorst, after returning from French captivity, gathered former members, and on 29 February 1948 the group resumed performances. The first post-war performances took place on 3 and 4 March 1951 in the "Zeller" hall and the "Hellmann" hall in Papenholz. The drama "Kerker und Freiheit" by Webels was seen by 409 spectators at an admission price of 1 DM. A longer forced break followed due to the leasing of the "Zeller" clubhouse. In the new home, the "Hiby" inn in Langendreer, a stage was built by the members themselves. The first play on this stage on 25 October 1965 was the crime play Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton. At an extraordinary meeting on 12 August 1967, the club decided to change its name to "Ruhrbühne Witten" in the hope of a more audience-friendly appearance and revitalised club activities. After several changes, the Ruhrbühne found a permanent home in 1969 in the "Saalbau Hellmann" in Papenholz. When the Städtischer Saalbau Witten opened in 1975, it became a regular venue for the amateur theatre group. There, in December 1991, the most-attended performance to date took place: the Christmas play Peterchens Mondfahrt drew 4,400 spectators over five performance days, and additional performances were spontaneously added to cope with the rush. In 1999, when a new clubhouse was needed again, the association rented premises of the former Rudolf Steiner school at Bochumer Str. 10a together with the photo club OBJEKTIV ART'96. The interior of the old wooden pavilion was renovated with great commitment in own work and transformed into a unique cultural venue: the theatre hall with a box stage was created in the former gymnasium and today offers seating for 99 spectators in rising tiers; the former classrooms were converted into club rooms, workshops and storage rooms, and the mask room was set up in the former teachers' room. In 2010, the Ruhrbühne purchased the property and building from the city of Witten. Since then, members have been working to preserve the building for the future and renovate it step by step, as parts of the wooden building were erected in the 1960s for high student numbers and were only planned to last about 20 years. In parallel, two more venues were created in 2013: the "Studiobühne" was technically upgraded and now seats about 40 people, and an outdoor stage with a roof was built by members and ceremonially opened at the summer festival in July 2013. In 2019, the association had 117 members aged 3 to 97. Two plays for adults and a Christmas fairy tale are staged each year, with costumes, props, sets and matching café and foyer decorations completely made or assembled in-house.

• 2026

  Celebrating 100th anniversary; season includes Much Ado About Nothing and The Little Witch.

• 2019

  Had 117 members aged 3 to 97.

• 2013

  Opened the "Studiobühne" and an outdoor stage.

• 2010

  Purchased the property and building from the city of Witten.

• 1999

  Moved into the former Rudolf Steiner school at Bochumer Str. 10a.

• 1991

  Most-attended performance: Peterchens Mondfahrt with 4,400 spectators in December.

• 1975

  Städtischer Saalbau Witten became a regular venue.

• 1969

  Found a permanent home in the "Saalbau Hellmann" in Papenholz.

• 1967

  Renamed "Ruhrbühne Witten" on 12 August.

• 1965

  First play on the new stage at the "Hiby" inn in Langendreer on 25 October: Gaslight.

• 1951

  First post-war performances on 3–4 March in Papenholz.

• 1948

  Resumed activities on 29 February after Alfred Haselhorst gathered former members.

• 1935

  Forced to cease theatre work during the Nazi era.

• 1926

  Founded as theatre association "Waldesrose" on 10 January in Bochum-Papenholz.

Community-oriented amateur theatre with its own venue, producing a varied repertoire for all ages.

• 2026

  Much Ado About Nothing

  Shakespeare adaptation set in a football club context.

• 2026

  The Little Witch

  Family and Christmas play based on Otfried Preußler, for ages 6+.

• 1991

  Peterchens Mondfahrt

  Christmas play that drew 4,400 spectators.

• 1965

  Gaslight

  Crime play by Patrick Hamilton, first on the new stage in Langendreer.

• 1951

  Kerker und Freiheit

  Drama by Webels, first post-war performance.

1. 1Ruhrbühne Witten e.V. – official websiteruhrbuehne-witten.de
2. 2Ruhrbühne Witten – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Ruhrbühne Witten – Wikidatawikidata.org