On Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, the Staatstheater Schwerin was evacuated due to smoke development.

According to news reports, 500 audience members were evacuated from a performance of Bizet’s “Carmen.” Spiegel noted that the Police said that the smoke was caused by a fire in a shaft at the side entrance to the theater.

After the theater was ventilated, a process that took about an hour and a half, people were able to pick up the belongings they left inside. The police are currently investigating suspected arson.

The theater is set to perform productions of “Peter Pan,” “La Boheme” and “Die Orestie,” among others.