The Belle Epoque in Europe

Cottbus got its theatre thanks to its inhabitants. A flourishing textile industry improved the economical and political situation of the citizens so that they wanted to satisfy their cultural requirements by building a new theatre. On November 1st, 1905, the municipal council decided to start a competition which was won by the architect Bernhard Sehring who had already built the Theater des Westens.
This building of a secessionist Jugendstil is by no doubt Sehring's best work. In a skilful way, he combined architecture, arts and crafts, painting and sculpture. After only 16 months, the opening of the theatre took place on October 1st, 1908.
In 1945, the citizens of Cottbus prevented the building serving as an ammunition depot during the war from being destroyed. After a long and expensive renovation in the Eighties, the theatre reopened in October 1986.