Imagine an audience literally tearing the roof off their theater—not in protest, but to make their voices heard by politicians and force a renovation. That’s exactly what happened at the Ernst Barlach Theater, a venue with close ties to its audience. This theater in Mecklenburg is a model of dedication and community. Here, just five people run the entire program and bring culture to places where it’s often lacking: to rural areas. For this, the theater was awarded the Federal Theater Prize in 2024 in the category “Private Theaters and Guest Performance Venues.”

What challenges and stories lie behind this extraordinary theater? You’ll find out in the new episode of “THAETER – Eine Spurensicherung,” presented by Laura Tontsch and Caspar Weimann.

“THAETER – Eine Spurensicherung” is the podcast for the Federal Theater Prize. On behalf of the Fonds Darstellende Künste, Laura Tontsch and Caspar Weimann present the award-winning theater institutions from 2023 and 2024.

Avalaible in German only.