The baroque Palace Theater in Ludwigsburg, built
as a playhouse under Duke Eberhard Ludwig, was furnished from 1758 under
Duke Carl Eugen by Philippe de La Guêpière. Up until 1853 plays were
put on there, and it then remained unused for the next one hundred
years. It is the oldest preserved palace theater in Europe.
Inside the theater two poles dominate the rather
small auditorium - the stage and the prince's box. The discriminating
court was entertained at the Palace Theater with fireworks, costumed
processions and banquets as part of courtly celebrations. Quite often,
Duke Carl Eugen, to whose glory the events on stage usually alluded to
classical antiquity, to gods and heros, played the leading role himself.
From 1802 on Duke Friedrich II von Württemberg had the auditorium
redecorated by Friedrich Thouret in the classicistic style in accordance
with the latest taste of the age. Thouret preferred a more classical
amphitheater-like three-dimensional effect.
The sumptuousness of the Ludwigsburg Palace
Theater is further increased by the almost completely preserved stage
machinery, designed by the theater engineer Johann Christian Keim. The
baroque scenery stage still enables a change of scenery on the open
stage within seconds. Such technical refinement, sensual effects such as
rain and wind machines, a thunder box and charming surprises were a
permanent part of baroque theater productions.
With its drive drum, the original large shaft
below the stage is the central element for the transformations of the
scenery, as it pulls the scenery cart. The tree for this part of the
machinery was chopped down in January 1756. The variable upper stage,
moving side scenery and a complicated lighting system with open flames
completed the ingenious stage machinery.
Over the one hundred years during which the
theater was unused, the giant scenery, backdrops and theater curtains
also survived in the attic.
These can be combined to create sixteen completely preserved scenes and
are the only original theater decoration from the German classical age.
After a period of restoration which lasted more
than six years, the Ludwigsburg Palace Theater is in operation and
plays can be put on there again since 1998. In addition, it is also
accessible to the interested public as part of guided tours.
Information Tel.: +49-(0)7141-186440 (Schloßverwaltung/Palace
Administration).
RETURN TO TOP
• PALACE HOME PAGE
• THE OLD
PALACE
• AREA
SURROUNDING THE OLD AND NEW PALACE
• FAMOUS PERSONS
• STORIES AND
ANECDOTES
• THE OLD
PALACE OVER THE CENTURIES
• MAPS OF THE
PALACES
• THE
PRUSSIAN UHLANEN REGIMENTS
Prepared by:
Timothy K. Vogel
163 Valleyview Road
Mooresville, NC 28117-4105
704-660-3931
Email: Webmaster
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