‘Triumph of the provinces’ – ‘Germany’s most creative theatre ruin’: the Theaterhaus Jena in Thuringia is as impressive structurally as it is artistically and aesthetically, seeking both contemporary eye level and proximity to urban society. From ‘Geschichte meiner Steifheit’ to ‘Deutschkurs’ and ‘Leaving Carthago’ – whether with amateurs in the Mothers’ Choir, entertaining summer theatre or classical performances with the Philharmonic Orchestra – the continuing great response to the artistic work of Wunderbaum, Lizzy Timmers, Marten van Otterdijk and the Jena Ensemblerat proves that collective artistic work can also be successful in a small city. While others are still discussing the possibilities of transparent ownership, collective management and grassroots democratic control, a model that is unique in Germany has been practised here for more than 30 years: The Theaterhaus is a gGmbH that not only belongs exclusively to current and former employees of the theatre, but also fulfils its statutory mission of consistent artistic and structural operational research, not least with Wunderbaum and the model of an ensemble council.
