E.T.A.-Hoffmann-Theater, Theatre on Schillerplatz, Bamberg, Germany

The E.T.A.-Hoffmann-Theater is a theatre building on Schillerplatz in central Bamberg, with a main hall, a smaller studio stage, and a vaulted room. The main hall holds around 414 seats, and the different spaces allow the house to present a range of production formats.

The building was converted into a theatre in 1802, making Bamberg one of the first German cities to establish a permanent theatre company. Since then, the house has gone through several changes but has remained a central stage in the region.

The theatre is named after E.T.A. Hoffmann, who worked here as musical director from 1808 to 1813, though he was hired as Kapellmeister and effectively conducted only one opera. He also served as dramaturge, ticket taker and scenery painter, painting the sets for the 1811 German premiere of Kleist's Käthchen von Heilbronn. A monument on the square shows him with his cat Murr.

The theatre stands directly on Schillerplatz and is easy to reach on foot from the centre of Bamberg. For evening performances, arriving a little early is a good idea, as the streets around the square can get busier at those times.

E.T.A. Hoffmann came to Bamberg in 1808 as musical director (Kapellmeister), but effectively conducted only one opera; he stayed until 1813, working as dramaturge, ticket taker and scenery painter, and painted the sets for the German premiere of Kleist's Käthchen von Heilbronn in 1811. A monument on the square shows him with his cat Murr on his shoulder.