The Theater Schloss Maßbach is the longest existing state-subsidized private theatre in Germany. Founded in 1946 by the Berlin actor couple Lena Hutter and Oskar Ballhaus in Franconia, the private theatre has a function of a Landesbühne (federal state stage). The first children's plays by Paul Maar, son-in-law of the founders, premiered in Maßbach. Today, the theatre is directed by Anne Maar, daughter of Paul Maar and award-winning children's book author herself.
The theatre, which has been at home in Maßbach Castle since 1960, follows the idea of "working out of community spirit". This is expressed in the coexistence of the actors as well as in the accommodation of workshops and venues in the premises of Maßbach Castle. The theatre is located in the castle with three permanent venues. It plays regularly at about 25 guest venues in and around Franconia. More than 300 performances with eleven new productions are performed in front of about 65,000 spectators every year.
The theatre is currently facing financial challenges. The annual budget is not sufficient in the long term to keep the theatre running. Against this background, the theatre commissioned actori to carry out an assessment of optimisation potentials in order to identify possible opportunities for cost reduction and earnings increase.
Further information can be found here.