Saalbau Witten, cultural centre in Witten
Saalbau Witten is a large cultural center and multi-purpose hall located in Witten that hosts concerts, theater, comedy, and various performances throughout the year. The building features a spacious hall with simple design, walls decorated with event posters, and seating arranged to provide clear views of the stage for all attendees.
The Saalbau opened on 19 September 1975, replacing the Voss'scher Saal destroyed in the Second World War. After years of hesitation, city director Emil Dreidoppel and culture committee chairman Karl Hoffmann pushed the project; a dedicated planning staff was formed in 1969 and construction began in 1972 on the site of the former Franziska colliery. The foundation stone was laid by mayor Friedhelm Ottlinger in October 1972.
The theatre hall is named after Karl Hoffmann, the culture committee chairman who pushed the project through the city council. The Saalbau is the stage of Witten's own theatre associations, including the Wittener Kulturgemeinde, the Volksbühne Witten and the Wittener Kinder- und Jugendtheater. Comedians such as Jürgen von der Lippe, Rüdiger Hoffmann, Herbert Knebel and Volker Pispers appear here regularly.
The hall sits at the edge of Witten's city centre, a few minutes' walk from Witten Hauptbahnhof. Bus lines 320, 371, 375, 376 and 379 serve it, plus night bus NE18. The 539 m² foyer holds the box office and cloakrooms, so arrive there first; the Karl-Hoffmann-Saal has 793 fixed seats with an unrestricted view of the stage.
The hall stands on the site of the former Franziska colliery, and construction began there in 1972; mayor Friedhelm Ottlinger laid the foundation stone that October. After only three years of building, the Saalbau opened on 19 September 1975 with a large opening celebration. Since 2012 the city archive of Witten has also been housed in the building.
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