History
Frankfurt’s first English-language theatre is founded in Sachsenhausen by Kevin Oakes from South Africa and Jon Johnson, Mary Jackson and Ken Elrod from the United States. Kevin Oakes becomes the theatre’s artistic director. The ensemble is called “cardboard clowns.
1980
Judith Rosenbauer joins the ensemble as an actress and later on becomes its managing director. Shortly thereafter the ensemble disbands. Judith Rosenbauer, Darryl Lockwood and Keith LeFevre continue its activities under the name “Café Theater.”
1981
The theatre moves from Sachsenhausen into a larger space in the Hamburger Allee and is now called “English Theater Frankfurt, Café Theater.”
1990
Thanks to its growing popularity under Judith Rosenbauer’s direction, the theatre again relocates and is now housed in a 230-seat facility in Frankfurt’s famous Kaiserstraße.
2001
The Kaiserstrasse is now too small for the English Theatre’s growing programme. Thanks to Judith Rosenbauer’s initiative and Dr. von Harbou’s far-sighted vision, the Dresdner Bank agrees to include a playhouse in its new Galileo skyscraper. Unfortunately, as a result of economic difficulties, the “English Theater e.V.” must close its doors. Judith Rosenbauer terminates her involvement with the English Theatre.
2002
To keep the tradition of English-language theatre in Frankfurt alive, The English Theatre, a limited charity, is founded. Daniel John Nicolai becomes artistic and executive director of the new organization, which begins co-producing with other theatres in Vienna, Los Angeles and New Jersey.
2003
The English Theatre GmbH moves into its new, state-of-the-art, 300-seat home, sponsored by the Dresdner Bank. The theatre is now the largest English-language theatre on the European continent.
Past productions
Season 2023/2024
The Vanishing Room by David Byrne
Something Rotten! by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
Sylvia bA.R. Gurney
The Two Popes by Anthony McCarten
Robin Hood by Kathryn Schultz Miller
Kindertransport by Diane Samuels
Season 2022/2023
Secret Life of Humans by David Byrne
Sister Act by Alan Menken, Glenn Slater, Cheri and Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane
Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams
Now and Then by Sean Grennan
Robin Hood by Kathryn Schultz Miller
Kindertransport by Diane Samuels
Malala– A girl with a book byNick Wood
Season 2021/2022
The Girl on the Train by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel
Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
American Son by Christopher Demos-Brown
The Totalitarians by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb
Malala– A girl with a book byNick Wood
Huck Finn by Sean Aita
Season 2020/2021
Switzerland by Joanna Murray-Smith
Season 2019/2020
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Dale Wasserman
Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
The Effect by Lucy Prebble
Huck Finn by Sean Aita
Season 2018/2019
The Lion in Winter by James Goldman
Cabaret by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff
Apologia by Alexi Kaye Campbell
The Children Hand by Lucy Kirkwood
Season 2017/2018
Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw
Jekyll & Hyde Music and lyrics by Frank Wildhorn and book by Laslie Bricusse
Hand to God by Robert Askins
The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar
The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde
Cinderella by Brothers Grimm
Season 2016/2017
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Merlin Holland and John O’Connor
Monty Python’s Spamalot with a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and music by Eric Idle, John Du Prez and Neil Innes
Handbagged by Moira Buffini
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Steven Canny & John Nicholson
Cinderella by Brothers Grimm
Season 2015/2016
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
The Life by David Newman, Ira Gasman and Cy Coleman, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Ira Gasman
Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar
Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Living with Lady Macbeth by Rob John
The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams
Season 2014/2015
Strangers on a Train by Craig Warner based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith
Ghost the Musical by Bruce Joel Rubin and music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard
Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz
Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman
Alice in Wonderland byLewis Carroll
The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde
Season 2013/2014
The Ruling Class by Peter Barnes
Saturday Night Fever by Robert Stigwood and Bill Oakes (book) and Bee Gees (music)
The Collector by John Fowles adapted by Mark Healey
Venus in Fur by David Ives
The Black Rider by Robert Wilson, Tom Waits, and William S. Burroughs
Virtual Heroes
by Clive Duncan
Season 2012/2013
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore
Sweet Charity by Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields and Neil Simon (musical)
Master Class by Terrence McNally
Black is Fair – Othell and the stranger in Shakespeare
Around the World in 80 Days by Sean Aita
Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire
Season 2011/2012
The Thrteepenny Opera by B.Brecht and K. Weil
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
The Who’s Tommy by R. Townshend and D. McAnuff (musical)
The Switch by Philip Dart
The Music Man by Meredith Wilson (musical)
Rain Man by Dan Gordon
Season 2010/2011
Fiddler on the Roof by J. Bock, S. Harnick and J. Stein (musical)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee
Spring Awakening by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater (musical)
Beauty and the Beast by A. Menken, H. Ashman, T. Rice, L. Woolverton
An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley
Rob and the Hoodies by Sean Aita
The Dead Guy by Eric Coble
Season 2009/2010
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
The Full Monty by Terence McNally and David Yazbek (Musical)
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
Honk! by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
The Fame Game by Philip Dar
The Fox by Allan Miller
Brave New World by David Rogers
Season 2008/2009
Little Shop of Horrors by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (Musical)
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton
Hair by Gerome Ragni, James Rado and Galt McDermot (Musical)
Peter Pan by Piers Chater-Robinson
Hysteria by Terry Johnson
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
A Perfect Match by Sean Aita
Educating Rita by Willy Russell
Season 2007/2008
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams
Five Guys Named Moe by Clarke Peters (Musical)
A Picasso by Jefrey Hatcher
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton
Deathtrap by Ira Levin
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
Virtual Hero by Clive Duncan
Season 2006/2007
Oliver! by Lionel Bart (Musical)
The Last Virgin by Tuvia Tenenbom and Maria Lowy
City of Angels by Larry Gelbart, Cy Coleman & David Zippel (Musical)
Seussical by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty
Neville’s Island by Tim Firth
Fat Men in Skirts by Nicky Silver
Revolting Britons by Clive Duncan
Boom Chicago: Me, MySpace & iPod!
Laughing Wild by Christopher Durang
Season 2005/2006
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Rent by Jonathan Larson (Musical)
Blithe Spirit by Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb
Betrayal by Herold Pinter
Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron
Living with Lady Macbeth by Rob Jogn
The Syringa Tree by Pamela Gien
Romy and Julian by Clive Duncan
Season 2004/2005
The Complete History of America (Abridged)by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor
Life After George by Hannie Rayson
Cabaret by Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb (Musical)
The Complete History of America (Abridged) by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor
Feelgood by Alistair Beaton
Talking Heads by Alan Bennett
Equus by Peter Shaffer
Boom Chicago: Why Aren’t You Happy Yet
The Canterville Ghost by Clive Duncan
Season 2003/2004
Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton
Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (Musical)
Closer by Patrick Marber
Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan
Kat and the Kings by David Kramer & Taliep Petersen (Musical)
Season 2002/2003
Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Someone Who´ll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuinness
They´re Playing Our Song by Neil Simon, Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager
Proof by David Auburn
Things We Do For Love by Alan Ayckbourn
Season 2001/2002
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Spend Spend Spend by Steve Brown (Musical)
Lady Windermere´s Fan by Oscar Wilde
Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry
Season 2000/2001
Corpse by Gerald Moon
Return to the Forbidden Planet by Bob Carlton (Musical)
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
Private Lives by Noel Coward
Season 1999/2000
The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) by Jess Borgeson, Adam Long and Daniel Singer
La Cage Aux Folles by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein (Musical)
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Dial M For Murder by Frederick Knott
Season 1998/1999
Bedroom Farce by Alan Ayckbourn
Kat and the Kings by David Kramer & Taliep Petersen (Musical)
Noises Off by Michael Frayn
Season 1997/1998
Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon
Rocky Horror Show by Richard O`Brian (Musical)
Season 1996/1997
Killer Joe by Tracy Letts
Sweet Charity by Neil Simon, Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields (Musical)
Separation by Tom Kempinski
Don´t Dress For Dinner by Marc Camoletti
Season 1995/1996
Blood Brothers by Willy Russel (Musical)
Ain´t Misbehavin by Fats Waller (Musical)
Double Double by Eric Elice and Roger Rees
Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell
Season 1994/1995
A Slice Of Saturday Night by Neil, Lea, John and Charles Heather (Musical)
Little Shop of Horrors by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (Musical)
Misery by Simon Moore
Tony `n Tina´s Wedding by Artificial Intelligence
Season 1993/1994
Murder by Misadventure by Edward Taylor
Chicago by Fred Ebb, John Kander and Bob Fosse (Musical)
The Ride Down Mount Morgan by Arthur Miller
The Owl and The Pussycat by Bill Manhoff
Season 1992/1993
Passion Play by Peter Nichols
The Boyfriend by Sandy Wilson (Musical)
Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman
Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn
Season 1991/1992
The Constant Wife by Somerset Maugham
Blood Brothers by Willy Russell (Musical)
Sleuth by Anthony Shaffer
Fences by August Wilson
Season 1990/1991
Rumors by Neil Simon
A Slice of Saturday Night by Neil, Lea, John and Charles Heather (Musical)
All My Sons by Arthur Miller
Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
Season 1989/1990
Night Mother by Marsha Norman
Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang
Five Finger Exercise by Peter Shaffer
Same Time Next Year by Berhard Slade
Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott
Season 1988/1989
Educating Rita by Willy Russell
A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
Wait until Dark by Frederick Knott
Bedroom Farce by Alan Ayckbourn
Season 1987/1988
The Blood Knot by Arthol Fugard
Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward
Deathtrap by Ira Levin
Season 1986/1987
Arms and the Man by Bernard Shaw
Long Day´s Journey into the Night by Eugene O´Neill
Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn
The Price by Arthur Miller
Season 1985/1986
The Homecoming by Harold Pinter
Before Breakfast & Hughie by Eugene O`Neill
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Mousetrap by Agatha Christie
Season 1984/1985
1984 George Orwell
All My Sons by Arthur Miller
The Roar of the Greasepaint –The Smell of the Crowd in Co-operation by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley (Musical)
Mousetrap by Agatha Christie
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg by Peter Nichols
Same Time Next Year by Bernard Slade
Season 1983/1984
Look Back In Anger by John Osborne
Happy Days by Samuel Beckett
Your A Good Man Charlie Brown by Clark Gesner (Musical)
Who´s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee
Slow Dance on the Killing Ground by William Hanley
Season 1982/1983
Zoo Story by Edward Albee
The Dumbwaiter by Harold Pinter
Angel City by Sam Shephard
The Caretaker by Harold Pinter
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Season 1981/1982
American Buffallo by David Mamet
Help by M. McGuire
Mixed Doubles by Alan Ayckbourn
Sugar Mouth Don´t Dance No More by Don Evans
Seascape by Edward Albee
Season 1980/1981
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Private Lives by Noel Coward
Before Breakfast by Eugene O´Neill
Hughie by Eugene O´Neill
Season 1979/1980
The Owl and The Pussycat by Bill Manhoff
The Dumbwaiter by Harold Pinter
Knots by R.D. Laing
Zoo Story by Edward Albee
I’m Herbert by Robert Anderson
Angel City by Sam Shephard
Gloria and Flora by Holland
Familiar Voices
