Staßfurt. When the curtain rises on the new season, it will be more than just another theatre season for Staßfurt. It marks the start of an anniversary that fills many with pride: for 80 years, what is now the Salzlandtheater has been the place where people come together for culture and social interaction. The fact that this special venue is once again so vibrant and lively, inviting people to enjoy culture and engage with one another, is the result of a strong collective effort.
To recognise this exceptional, tireless and reliable commitment on the ground, District Administrator Markus Bauer visited the local organisers in the midst of the final preparations for the start of the season to express his gratitude, on behalf of the region, to the Salzlandtheater Support Association, chaired by Bianca Görke.
Anyone who, like the District Administrator, follows developments closely is aware of the extensive personal effort involved in running a theatre. In rural areas, it is above all committed individuals with a direct connection to their local community who shape cultural life. In Staßfurt, the theatre association took on full responsibility 20 years ago for preserving and modernising the theatre. With great courage and voluntary commitment, the organisers have run the theatre ever since and established it as a firmly rooted institution in the region. In 2021, it was even awarded the Federal Theatre Prize – the first touring theatre to receive this honour.
“80 years of theatre in Staßfurt – that’s eight decades full of ups and downs, memories, the excitement of premieres, heart-pounding moments and encounters. This theatre, with its comparatively young dance company and huge popularity, is an indispensable part of our Salzlandkreis,” explained the District Administrator with great gratitude during a joint discussion. “What the theatre association, the many volunteers working behind the scenes and theatre director Stephan Czuratis are currently achieving here represents an invaluable contribution to community life.” Special programmes for children, young people and senior citizens make the theatre accessible to all. Theatre education projects anchor the theatre in the hearts of the next generation and their parents. Politicians and businesses provide financial support – not least the Salzlandsparkasse – and strengthen local ties. The Salzlandkreis’s cultural development plan, which has just been updated, secures reliable funding for the Salzlandtheater for the coming years to help cover the staff and operational costs incurred in day-to-day theatre operations.
The open and welcoming atmosphere at the Salzlandtheater is also evident in the programme for the new anniversary season. From its in-house dance ensemble, where even children take their first steps, through close collaboration with schools and nurseries, to guest performances by well-known companies – the theatre sees itself as a welcoming venue for all members of the public.