Theater Hof
The Theater Hof is a flagship for the Upper Franconian cultural life, which also radiates far beyond the regional borders. Its broad repertoire in the four sections of spoken theater, musical theater, ballet and young theater ranges from the classics of opera, operetta and drama to classical modernism, children's and youth theater, ballet and Broadway musicals. The latter has been a focus of the profile since the beginning of Reinhardt Friese's directorship in 2012.
The first "Stadttheater Hof" existed as early as 1822, using the converted former Franciscan church in Schützenstraße as its venue. From 1894 to 1994, the Theater Hof used "Pfaff's Colosseum", a more comfortable concert, ball and theater hall newly built in 1894 on Schützenstraße. Finally, on September 23, 1994, the building still in use today on Kulmbacher Strasse was opened.
The 28-meter-high stage tower shines as a cultural beacon over the city and region. A generous glass facade highlights the light design of the foyer and opens the theater to the city. The auditorium in the main house (567 seats) and the studio stage (99 seats) offers a good view of the stage from all seats. Around 30 new productions per season with over 400 performances usually reach more than 80,000 spectators in Hof and in the guest venues. This documents that the theater is firmly anchored in the city and the entire region. Even in a nationwide comparison, the multi-genre theater occupies a top position among the state theaters.
With regional and national events such as the "Bavarian Theater Days", the "German State Theater Days" and the biennial Hof Culture Night, the theater also attracts thousands of visitors to the Kulturpalast outside of its fixed schedule. In addition, Theater Hof offers an attractive supporting program with school cooperations, public rehearsals and matinees.
Another special feature of the Hof Theater is the public canteen, which is not reserved solely for the theater's artists and staff, but is also open to visitors and is repeatedly described as Germany's most beautiful and greenest theater canteen. While there is a lively exchange between audience and staff before and after performances, Kampschulte's Kulturkantine also invites people to lunch from Monday to Friday and is a popular venue for all kinds of concerts and events as well as company and family celebrations with seating for around 100 people.
In addition to its task of offering culture enthusiasts a wide-ranging, attractive repertoire, the theater also acts as a "talent factory": many young artists have gained stage experience in Hof and are now working at major houses. Theater Hof offers not only young professionals, but also young amateurs the opportunity to get a taste of theater: In the Young Theater's play clubs, as extras or as part of a Voluntary Social Year in Culture (FSJK), young people can try their hand on and off stage and gain an insight into the various fields of activity at the theater. The Theater Hof is an employer for about 150 employees as well as a client for many companies located in the region and thus also an important economic factor in the region.
