Hessian Theaters and Opera Houses Shut Down Until April 2021

By Dejan Vukosavljevic
(Credit: Sven-Helge Czichy)

Theaters and Opera houses in the German federal state of Hessen have announced that they will shut down until at least the beginning of April 2021.

The Hessische Staatstheater Darmstadt, Hessische Staatstheater Kassel and Hessische Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Hessische Landestheater Marburg and the Stadttheater Gießen will try to reopen during week of Easter.

“Unfortunately, the infectious situation is still serious, which is why the nationwide lockdown has been extended. In order to get a little more planning security, the directors of the Hessian theaters have agreed with the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art on a uniform, extended closing time for all theaters,” says the official statement on the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden’s website. “If the pandemic situation permits, the performances will resume during the week of Easter at the beginning of April 2021.”

“The direct contact between people makes culture so alive, but at the same time very vulnerable. The empty concert halls and theaters are an impressive signs of the great sacrifices that the pandemic demands of us. But they are also a contribution to protect people’s health,” said Minister for Culture and Art of the State of Hessen Angela Dorn. “I am extremely grateful to the directors of the Hessian state theaters for their solidarity and the great responsibility,” added Dorn.

The rehearsals in the five theaters are unlikely to start before the beginning of February.

Germany has extended its COVID-19 lockdown until at least the end of January 2021. German authorities believe that the lockdown will end when the country has dropped to an incidence of 50 new infections per 100,000 people over the course of seven days. The current national incidence is 154 new infections per 100,000 people.

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