The Sicilian musician Pippo Pollina has been regarded for over thirty years as one of the most creative artists in the European singer-songwriter scene. Countless record productions, international tours, and prestigious collaborations give him a special status that he has earned through continuity and commitment both in the studio and live on stage. Now at 60 years old, Pippo Pollina feels the need to celebrate this milestone with a solo concert in an intimate setting in his own way: all alone on stage face to face with his audience.

The program “Nell’attimo” (In the Moment) is the sketchbook of a cantautore who seeks diversity in the small, in the clarity of touching, melancholic songs. It is a celebration of the moment, sung with the devotion of a musician who can encapsulate the world in words and melodies. Pippo Pollina is concerned with intensity and presence, but not necessarily with harmony. After all, not everything is calm in and on the world.

An authentic and intimate evening for all those who love Italian songwriting, as well as for all those who have already come to know the art of Pippo Pollina and his imposing voice. An art that moves touchingly but intensely between poetry, music, and civil courage, which has become what we love about Pollina through collaborations with artists such as Konstantin Wecker, Etta Scollo, Georges Moustaki, Rebekka Bakken, and his son, the singer-songwriter Faber.

Admission: 6:00 PM

Dive into the “Anatomy of Happiness”

Human happiness is closely related to the body. How closely is revealed by the KÖRPERWELTEN permanent exhibition in Heidelberg. Here, the anatomist Gunther von Hagens developed the method of plastination at the University of Heidelberg, a groundbreaking technique for preserving bodies.

Today, KÖRPERWELTEN is one of the most popular exhibitions in the world. Curious people around the globe explore the mysteries of human existence. But it is not just the anatomy of the body that is central – rather, it is about raising awareness and understanding the significance of the body in relation to one's own happiness. The exhibited plastinates create a new awareness for a responsible approach to one's own body and a healthy lifestyle. What moves us? What drives us? And how does happiness actually work? All these questions and many more are answered in the “Anatomy of Happiness” and just as many are raised anew. The human body never ceases to amaze and inspire us.

Last admission: 5:00 PM

Danny and Helen's romantic dinner is interrupted when Helen's brother Liam bursts into the room covered in blood. Not his blood, he says. A boy has been stabbed on the street, and Liam just helped him. Danny wants to call the police. Helen stops him, as Liam has a criminal record, it's better not to draw attention to him. Danny is persuaded to protect his brother-in-law and doesn't realize the fatal tangle of half-truths, lies, and love he is getting involved in.

In a chamber play, "Orphans" raises societal questions about guilt, responsibility, and civic courage, revealing how quickly values like morality and helpfulness are discarded once personal interests and entanglements take precedence.

Theater for the whole family from 6 years old
Based on the novel by Karla Schneider

A production by the Landestheater Tübingen.

Jäcki finally has her journeyman's certificate as a tailor and a great future ahead with her carnival costume creations. But there are two mysterious societies causing unrest in the peaceful kingdom. Forests are being destroyed, plants of all kinds are being torn from the earth. Railway tracks crisscross the entire land. Those who wish to travel are forced to use the train.

Jäcki laces up her skates and starts investigating. When she sneaks into the palace to speak to the king, she finds an unexpected ally in his son. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that could mean the downfall of the kingdom and embark on a daring rescue mission. With rebellious instinct and creativity, Jäcki and the prince do everything in their power to unravel a fatal tangle of appearance and reality and find their happiness.

In her novel, awarded the Astrid Lindgren Prize, Karla Schneider weaves an exciting and socially critical fairy tale mystery.


Children: €7 / Adults: €12

Currently no tickets available - Remaining tickets may be available at the box office

by Nis-Momme Stockmann

What does a general director need, whose contract extension is in jeopardy and whose operation is crumbling and seething on all sides? Of course, a big success! A new play! Best written by an up-and-coming young author and directed by a successful young director - that's sure to win back the hearts of local cultural politics. In this theater farce, where everyone only thinks of themselves and the staff get lost in small wars, a desperate theater chief takes action:
He opens a portal through which demons escape and transform the theater into a Dionysian chaos...
"It is a bombastic fireworks display, a gigantic parody of the theater industry and how we talk about theater - about all that we currently reflect on in the theater," raved Deutschlandfunk after the premiere of the new play by Nis-Momme Stockmann in January 2024. To close the series of premieres of the play in the Grand Theatre, the theater itself takes a hit and the Aachen audience enjoys a comedy festival.

Translated text:

by Katharina Grosch after Henrik Ibsen

"Solness" is the Norwegian word for sunshine - and a fitting name for the radiant being of the master builder, the subject of Ibsen's classic. Master builder Solness is a successful artist, wealthy boss, and respected husband, but his brilliance is fueled by dominance and exploitation, rooted, as almost always with Ibsen, in a sin of the past. Solness is the center of his universe - until the young Hilde Wangel enters the scene. She is the only one who is neither emotionally nor financially dependent on him. And she has a score to settle with him...
Patriarchal power structures, artistic genius, and emancipation are themes of this masterpiece. In Director and Playwright Katharina Grosch's adaptation of the material, the focus is on the conflicts, expectations, and fears between generations. Houses become a societal metaphor and female anger finds its place too.

Admittance: 3:00 PM

Welcome to the realm of knowledge in the Baroque era: Stepping onto creaking floorboards into the quiet grandeur of our historical library hall, one is immediately enveloped by the collective knowledge of the Early Modern period. Like stage sets in a Baroque theater, the original bookshelves jut into the space, housing around 50,000 books from all fields of knowledge. Behind unassuming book spines lie remarkable treasures, such as the first German Bible printed in America.

At the end of the 17th century, the orphanage's library was established as one of the first public libraries in Germany. Primarily through donations, book exchanges, and their own publications, the library grew so rapidly that within a few years, it was comparable to significant German university libraries. In 1728, it received its own building, which is considered the oldest surviving secular library structure in Germany. Not only in recent times has the library been visited by guests and researchers from around the world: Albrecht von Haller, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all admired its bibliophilic treasures. We present a selection of them for you in rotating cabinet exhibitions in the former reading room of the library.

10 am - 5 pm

The Art and Natural History Chamber is considered the oldest German museum room. It was established by August Hermann Francke for educational purposes and is now once again set up according to the original museum concept of the 18th century in its historical location in the attic of the Historical Orphanage.

Eighteen richly decorated collection cabinets house approximately 3000 natural specimens, curiosities, and artifacts. They provide a unique impression of a Baroque cabinet of curiosities. Unlike modern museums, the chamber follows an encyclopedic collecting approach. A distinction is made between natural specimens and artifacts. The natural specimens are divided into rocks, plants, and animals, while the artifacts are categorized into visual arts, calligraphy, coins, everyday culture, and clothing. The goal was to create a mirror image of the world: a microcosm that made the macrocosm as the wonderful creation of God tangible.

In a series of events, art projects take place around the Art and Natural History Chamber. In the so-called "Contemporary Reflections on the Art and Natural History Chamber," foundations invite artists to engage in an artistic dialogue with the chamber.

Detailed information

Tue-Sun 10am-5pm

Palace-like, the orphanage rises on Franckeplatz. Then as now, it is the centerpiece of the Francke Foundations. Erected in 1698 as the first building of the school city, it represents a new facet of European Baroque, combining confident representation without extravagant ornamentation and setting the tone for orphanage architecture.

Today, the orphanage is our museum and cultural center. Right from the start, two permanent exhibitions guide you through the history of the foundation and the global impact of Pietism. On the first floor, the former prayer and singing hall surprises with its bright architecture. Today, it enjoys an excellent reputation as a concert hall due to its fantastic acoustics. In the adjacent conference rooms, a photo exhibition showcases the impressive renovation work since the foundations were reestablished in 1991. The second floor is reserved for our changing special exhibitions, which provide insight into important themes of the foundation's history from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Passing through the art and natural history collections in the attic, you reach the balcony via a narrow wooden staircase. Here, a wide view opens up over the impressive ensemble with school buildings from three centuries. There is also a splendid panorama of the Old Town of Halle from here. In the basement, children can explore their own paths in the Krokoseum.

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

What power does the word have? For Halleschen Pietismus, the word was of central importance. On the ground floor of the Historical Orphanage, we show you how August Hermann Francke's reform movement could spread around the world.

Francke developed central reformative goals of Martin Luther's with Halleschen Pietismus. His approach was as clear as it was revolutionary: Every person should find God through their own Bible reading. However, for this to happen, everyone - boys and girls alike - had to learn to read, everyone should be able to afford their own Bible and it should be printed in their own native language. Therefore, Francke established schools for all social classes, printed millions of German-language People's Bibles, and created an international network through which the Bible was translated into many other languages. His educational initiative allowed a broad population to engage with the word. In the 18th-century evangelical parsonages, the authors of the Romantic and Enlightenment periods were highly regarded. A culture of self-reflection spread in Pietism, which was reflected in diaries and personal testimonies, giving us remarkable insights into the spiritual life of people of that time. Symbolically, the power of the word is also evident in the meticulously restored pulpit from the Church of St. Ulrich in Halle, where Francke preached from 1715 and which you can admire in the exhibition.

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

4 talers and 16 groschen are considered the founding capital of the Francke Foundations. How an unparalleled school city grew from this unexpected donation to a simple pastor in Glaucha can be discovered on the ground floor of the Historical Orphanage. A multimedia installation and numerous extraordinary objects will transport you into the fascinating founding and impact history of Francke's work. Because what began with a school for the poor and an orphanage, developed in a few decades into a true reform project that was based on education: Over 2,000 students learned in various schools, specially constructed economic buildings, a hospital, and a pharmacy guaranteed the care of over 3,000 people on the premises, unique cultural-historical collections in the library and chamber of wonders were established, and Francke's ideas were spread within and outside Europe. August Hermann Francke wanted nothing less than a "world change through personal change." Discover everything he set in motion through this.

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

All scrambled up!
Can one still make jokes in times like these, with war, inflation,
and now even a climate issue? Yes, you can, if you know how!
Comedian Ramon Chormann deems it urgent that especially in these
overlapping crises, people take at least two hours to unwind,
laugh heartily, and forget about stress and worries.
And he succeeds in doing so by getting so terribly "energized" and pinpointing everyday stories so accurately that everyone can recognize themselves in his descriptions.
The title of the 11th stage program "Alles dorschenanner!" speaks for itself.
Everything is topsy-turvy in the world, both in the societal world,
as well as in the economic and political ones. Things that used to be completely normal are all mixed up, people are all mixed up,
the climate and weather are all mixed up. Moreover, the whole jumbled mess in our offices, homes, closets, basements, and storage spaces would justify an additional program.
Ramon Chormann offers a rollercoaster mix of cabaret, satire, and comedy, interspersed with deeply moving songs on the piano with his singing voice reminiscent of Udo Jürgens. Once again, he casually and confidently lays bare the ruthless truth, speaking directly to his audience's soul.
Here, there is laughter together, but also contemplation.
All scrambled up! from 02.05.2024 at both Ramon-Chormann-Theaters and on tour.

Doors open: 17.00 - Free seating choice

Art against Cash (KGB)

Finally, Art against Cash is back at the Jungen Schlosstheater Neuwied!
The concept of Art against Cash is simple: The performing artists have ten minutes each to win over the audience. Almost anything is allowed. There are no limits to the genres. Comedy, music, poetry, juggling, magic, or completely different forms of performance come together.
At the end, the audience votes with money, throwing it into piggy banks for the respective individuals which also serves as their fee. So, don't forget your small and even big bills.
Moderator Salomon Hofstötter has already participated in several KGBs and is so well "connected" in the scene that he puts together the program at short notice. It guarantees an entertaining and interesting evening full of surprises.

Entry fee a measly 3 EUROS

"Purer Zufall" - the new comedy show that doubles your luck! Hippopotamus lady Amanda & Co are ready for an evening full of fun and unpredictable surprises! In ventriloquist Sebastian Reich's fifth tour program, things are happening: it's musical, magical, emotional, romantic, interactive, and above all, funny! While Amanda likes to improvise, Sebastian leaves nothing to chance, at least that's his plan. If it weren't for Amanda, who is looking forward to reuniting with old friends and welcoming a few guests from the past with the audience - now that's no "pure coincidence"! New crazy ideas, a large portion of improvisation, and a few highlights from over 20 years of stage life!
"It's particularly important to me that our show is suitable for all age groups again. We are looking forward to a mixed audience on the new tour, ranging from singles to retirees, from families with children to friends who want to spend a fun evening together," says the ventriloquist & comedian from Würzburg. Experience a fireworks display of comedy and humor that will strain your laughter muscles and sweeten your everyday life for a few hours. "Purer Zufall" guarantees an evening full of carefree entertainment for everyone! Tickets available now.

Doors open: 5:00 PM

A drummy gangster satire full of surprises

Doors open: 6:30 PM

We all access the internet daily through web browsers. The question of how browsers determine what we experience online has fascinated artists early on. Based on a research project by the KIT Institute for Art and Architectural History on browser art, the exhibition »Choose Your Filter!« provides insights into 30 years of browser development. Here, you can discover and try out browser visions through interactive installations. 

Wed to Fri from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sat and Sun 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM