Friedrichsbau Varieté, Stuttgart

The Friedrichsbau Variety Theater (Friedrichsbau Varieté) in Stuttgart has a rich and storied history, marked by both cultural prosperity and devastating losses. Originally constructed in 1898, the first Friedrichsbau was an Art Nouveau gem that featured a theater hall capable of accommodating 800 guests on its first floor. It thrived as a cultural hotspot, welcoming international stars such as Grock, Josephine Baker, Charlie Rivel, Karl Valentin, and Marita Gründgens during the 1920s and 1930s. World War II significantly damaged the building, leading to its destruction by an Allied bombing in 1944. The remnants were cleared in 1955 for urban development.

The theater was resurrected on its historical footprint in 1993, within a new building erected by the state-owned L-Bank, which also accommodated offices, stores, and restaurants. This modern Friedrichsbau Varieté opened in 1994, featuring a more intimate venue with 369 seats, and quickly became known for its vibrant performances ranging from cabaret and comedy to artistry, burlesque, and magic.

The theater faced challenges in 2014 when the L-Bank terminated its lease, prompting a move to a new location at Pragsattel, supported by the city of Stuttgart. This transition marked a new chapter as the Friedrichsbau Variety Theater was established as a non-profit entity under the management of Gabriele Frenzel and Timo Steinhauer. By its 30th anniversary in 2024, the theater had hosted 1,700 artists across 6,605 shows, drawing in more than 1.9 million visitors.

Today, the Friedrichsbau Variety Theater continues to be a beacon of diverse cultural expression in Stuttgart, staging up to four in-house productions a year alongside a variety of guest performances. This venue not only serves as a testament to the resilience and enduring appeal of live performance arts but also stands as a historical emblem that has survived through periods of both flourishing and adversity.