Theater und Philharmonie Essen (TUP)

In the location's words:

With the artistic divisions Aalto Musiktheater, Aalto Ballett Essen, Essener Philharmoniker and Schauspiel Essen, Theater und Philharmonie Essen (TUP) unites one of Germany's largest theater companies under one roof, which also includes the Philharmonie Essen, an internationally renowned concert hall.

TUP's venues - the Aalto Theater, the Philharmonie and the Grillo Theater - are among the architectural icons of the region. Around 350,000 guests attend the more than 1,000 TUP events each season. The work of the artistic disciplines is praised by audiences and critics alike, with various awards recognizing the top performances.

The theaters enjoy an outstanding reputation in the city of Essen and are known nationwide. In addition to the theater and concert evenings, numerous concert and theater education programs are offered, which are very popular with children, parents and teachers.

Around 700 employees in almost 40 theater professions make theater in Essen. In addition to the permanent artistic ensembles in musical theater, ballet and drama as well as the orchestra and the opera choir, the TUP has its own workshops for the construction of complete sets and decorations; costumes are made in the in-house tailor's shop and wigs in the make-up shop. In the three large theater buildings, the technical teams as well as the lighting and sound specialists ensure that performances run smoothly.

Theater und Philharmonie Essen GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the City of Essen. It has been headed by Managing Director Fritz Frömming since September 1, 2023. Dr. Merle Fahrholz is Artistic Director of the Aalto Musiktheater and the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra. Andrea Sanguineti has been General Music Director of the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra since the start of the 2023/2024 season. The Aalto Ballet Essen is led by ballet director Ben Van Cauwenbergh. Selen Kara and Christina Zintl took over the directorship of Schauspiel Essen at the start of the 2023/2024 season. Marie Babette Nierenz has also been Artistic Director of the Philharmonie Essen since the start of the 2023/2024 season.