Producer
Leopold Hoesch
Director
Andrzej Klamt
Producer
Nicholas von Brauchitsch
Genre
Culture
Broadcaster
ZDFtheaterkanal / 3sat / ZDFdokukanal / arte
Length
1 x 30'
Editor/in
Eva Voosen & Jörg Lemmer
Year
2004
Theatrescapes
Staatstheater Stuttgart

The Württemberg State Theatre in Stuttgart is the largest three-part theatre in the world. Eight venues are available for ballet, opera and drama. Esther Schweins introduces the former Royal Court Theatre, which was built between 1909 and 1912 by the Munich architect Max Littmann as a double theatre with opera and playhouse.

In recent years, the Stuttgart State Opera has repeatedly been voted Germany's "Opera House of the Year". The Stuttgart Ballet achieved world fame under John Cranko, who died in 1973, and the theatre made a name for itself with innovative, spectacular productions. Claus Peymann, theatre director 1974-1979, attracted attention not only with his theatre work. He attracted particular protest with his appeal for donations for the dental treatment of RAF terrorist Gudrun Ensslin, who was imprisoned in Stuttgart Stammheim, pinned to the theatre's notice board.

In addition to Claus Peymann, former Lord Mayor Manfred Rommel, actor Traugott Buhre, theatre director Friedrich Schirmer and opera director Klaus Zehelein have their say and talk about the special significance of the State Theatre in the „Schwabenländle". Archive footage with production excerpts from Oskar Schlemmer's "Triadic Ballet", Martin Kusej's sensational "King Arthur" or John Cranko's choreographies provide an insight. And ballet director Reid Anderson reports on the still palpable spirit of Cranko.

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