Sommerbühne Bremerhaven

Culture under the open sky

When summer arrives in Bremerhaven, culture moves outdoors. For around five weeks, the Sommerbühne takes over Theodor-Heuss-Platz directly in front of the City Theatre. On a stage up to 100 square metres and before a grandstand with over 300 seats, a programme of theatre, readings, performances, and music unfolds – a summer highlight in the cultural calendar of the state of Bremen.

A theatre with a rich history

The Bremerhaven City Theatre was founded as early as 1867 – only about four decades after the city's founding. The current building at Theodor-Heuss-Platz opened on October 1, 1911, based on designs by Berlin architect Oskar Kaufmann, with Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was almost completely destroyed in a heavy air raid on September 18, 1944; reconstruction began in 1950, and the theatre celebrated its reopening on April 12, 1952. After extensive renovations and extensions around 1999/2000, it is now one of the most modern city theatres in Germany. Those experiencing open-air culture in front of this facade are seated before a building with almost 160 years of theatrical history.

A programme from multiple institutions

The Sommerbühne is supported by the cultural institutions around Theodor-Heuss-Platz: the Bremerhaven City Theatre, the Bremerhaven City Library, and the Art Association with its Art Gallery and Art Museum, in collaboration with the Seestadt's Cultural Office. Since 2023, the partners have been curating a comprehensive and varied programme each year. The heart of the event is a summer production by the City Theatre – in 2026, Nikolai Gogol's The Government Inspector. This is complemented by readings from the City Library, ranging from crime novels to non-fiction, formats from the Art Association such as the Kunstkarussell (Art Carousel), and special events like the Long Night of Culture.

Seestadt atmosphere

Theodor-Heuss-Platz is located in the heart of Bremerhaven, the young Seastadt with its distinct maritime tradition. The Sommerbühne uses this central location to make culture accessible and enjoyable under the open sky – a relaxed summer meeting point for the entire city, where high culture and a casual open-air atmosphere naturally come together.