Schlosstheater Celle, Palace theatre in Celle Castle, Germany
The Schlosstheater Celle is a baroque theatre built into the castle with seating for around 330 people arranged in orchestra, boxes, and balconies shaped like a horseshoe. The complex includes several performance spaces throughout the castle and its grounds.
Built between 1670 and 1674 by architect Giuseppe Arighini for Duke George William, the theatre was created as part of renovating the castle into a proper royal residence. It ranks among Europe's oldest continuously used theatres from that era.
The theatre has always been a gathering place for the city's cultural life and remains so today. You can feel this role simply by being in the room - it serves the same purpose for modern audiences as it did for the royal court centuries ago.
The theatre is wheelchair accessible, and guided tours are available to explore the architecture and rooms. Plan time to visit, as the various performance spaces are scattered throughout the castle and grounds.
Inside the castle sits the Malersaal, a tiny performance room seating just 40 people for theatre up close. This hidden space reveals how the ducal family also enjoyed smaller, more personal entertainments beyond the main hall.
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