State Theater Augsburg – brechtbühne | Tickets & Directions

The brechtbühne in the Gaswerk is the compact, characterful venue of the State Theater Augsburg located on the historic Gaswerk site in Augsburg-Oberhausen. Since January 2019, the ensemble has been performing here plays, ballet, and selected special formats in the unique ambiance of the Ofenhaus – a former industrial hall that, with its rough charm and close proximity to the stage, makes every performance immediately impactful. Officially, the stage is called "brechtbühne im Ofenhaus" and is located at Am Alten Gaswerk 8, nestled in a creative quarter with workshops, rehearsal rooms, and gastronomy. The venue accommodates 219 spectators, making it ideal for intense theater evenings where you are close to the action. Getting there is convenient: On performance days, a free shuttle service brings visitors directly to the door from Augsburg-Oberhausen station; opposite, there is a continuously open parking garage with around 350 parking spaces and E-charging stations. Those seeking the theater experience in a concentrated, modern environment will find here a stage with short distances, clear sightlines, and a program that regularly opens new perspectives.

Directions, Shuttle & Parking: How to Relaxedly Get to the brechtbühne in the Gaswerk

The brechtbühne is located on the Gaswerk site in the north of Augsburg, officially at Am Alten Gaswerk 8 in Augsburg-Oberhausen. For navigation, the site operator recommends entering "Am Alten Gaswerk 7" or – for very old GPS devices – "August-Wessels-Straße 30", as these addresses reliably lead to the site. If arriving by train, take the regional train (RB/RE) from Augsburg main station for one stop to Augsburg-Oberhausen; the journey takes only a few minutes. From there, on theater days, a free shuttle – marked on-site as swa Taxi-Shuttle – takes guests directly to the brechtbühne. The shuttle usually starts about an hour before the performance begins at short intervals, so you arrive without waiting frustration and without detours; after the performance ends, it returns on demand or in close succession to the station. Arriving by tram is also uncomplicated: Line 2 runs to "Bahnhof Oberhausen", alternatively, bus line 21 serves the stop "Gaswerk", which is about 190 meters from the entrance of the venue. For drivers, the site offers a significant advantage: Directly opposite the brechtbühne, there is a continuously open parking garage – short distances are guaranteed. According to the operator, the parking garage has about 350 car parking spaces and four E-charging stations. The parking rates are transparent and calculable for the cultural evening: €1.50 is charged per hour; the maximum daily rate is €12.00 (06:00–17:59), the maximum night rate is €4.50 (18:00–05:59), and there is also a 24-hour rate of €12.00 (according to Gaswerk service information). Bicycle parking options are also indicated directly at the parking garage. Thus, the journey – whether sustainably by train and bus or comfortably by car – is thoughtfully organized, fitting the compact logistics of the venue. Another advantage: The paths on the site are well signposted, and a site map helps with orientation between the gas holder, Ofenhaus, and parking garage. Those who arrive early can enjoy a short walk through the industrial historical ensemble and prepare for a concentrated theater evening.

Program, Tickets & Schedule: Plays, Ballet, and Special Formats in the Ofenhaus

As the fifth venue in the network of the State Theater Augsburg, the brechtbühne in the Gaswerk is primarily predestined for plays and ballet evenings; smaller concert and special series, as well as program points within the framework of festivals, are also included. The compact architecture with 219 seats creates immediate proximity between the stage and the audience – an ideal setting for new texts, classic works in fresh interpretations, and contemporary choreographies. Regularly, revivals stand alongside premieres or German-language premieres. The current schedule is published monthly by the State Theater; it includes dates for the brechtbühne as well as other locations (such as martini-Park, Kongress am Park, or the open-air stage in the summer season). The brechtbühne has a simple, customer-friendly pricing structure with two price groups (PG1/PG2), applied depending on the production and seating area. Tickets can be purchased online in the theater's webshop and through the visitor service; early purchase is recommended, as the small house can sell out quickly for attractive titles. The venue is also particularly appealing as a festival stage: The city-curated Brecht Festival regularly uses the location as a venue, positioning the Gaswerk site as a vibrant cultural place beyond regular theater operations. Whether literary evenings, discourse formats, cross-genre performances, or intimate dance evenings – the stage is technically set up to accommodate different scenarios in a short time. The theater's proximity to the ensemble also creates efficient transitions between rehearsal days and performance series. As a result, a program dramaturgy emerges that not only uses the space but visibly incorporates it as part of the narrative: The hall structure of the Ofenhaus, the reduced setting of the grandstand, and the immediate distance to the action intensify the evening and transform a theater visit into a focused live experience.

Seating Plan, Seats & View: 219 Seats, Compact Grandstand, Short Distances

The brechtbühne in the Gaswerk has 219 seats, providing an unusually personal stage proximity for a large city. The audience sits on a rising grandstand, which creates clear sightlines to the performance area. The seats, as well as part of the stage technology, come from the previous venue and were reused during the move to the Ofenhaus. This continuity ensures familiar ergonomics and supports the sustainability idea that has accompanied the interim project from the beginning. For guests, this means: There are hardly any "distant" seats; the distance to the stage remains manageable even in the back rows, making facial expressions, language, and fine choreographic details well perceivable. A formal hall plan graphic is usually displayed during online purchases; the pricing logic of the brechtbühne works with two price groups (PG1/PG2), making orientation easy. Those who value maximum text comprehensibility typically choose the middle rows in the central block – here, balanced angles of view and pleasant distance come together. Closer seats provide the strongest immediacy, while the upper third of the grandstand offers a particularly good overview of the overall choreography. Due to the shallow depth of the hall, side view restrictions are rarely an issue; on the contrary: The grandstand appears deliberately reduced and focuses attention on the stage and performers. For productions with special spatial arrangements or scenic repurposing, the seating can be adjusted – the venue is technically prepared for this. The house also showcases its strength acoustically: Speech and quiet soundscapes come across precisely, which is a significant advantage, especially in spoken theater and chamber music moments. Those who love the atmosphere of a black box experience the best possible manifestation here: a concentrated, flexible stage without great distance, which, combined with the industrial charm of the Ofenhaus, is unique in the region.

History & Special Features: From the Red "Container" to the Ofenhaus – an Interim Venue with Profile

The term "brechtbühne" has accompanied the Augsburg theater since 2012: At that time, a second stage was created next to the Great House, whose red facade cladding was immediately recognizable in the cityscape. With the upcoming general renovation of the main house, the venue changed – after two years of construction, the "brechtbühne im Ofenhaus" opened in January 2019 on the Gaswerk site in Augsburg-Oberhausen. The Ofenhaus, once the heart of the city's gas production, was adapted for cultural use and now houses both the venue and workshop and office spaces of the theater. A striking detail of identity preservation is the reuse of essential elements: Seats and a large part of the stage technology were moved along and still shape the compact setting. A speaking monument of origin is the art installation "Brechtwelle": Parts of the former red facade panels were composed in 2024 by artists Sigrun Lenk and Wolfram Hertz into a sculptural wave form, which points to the creative center near the parking garage entrance. Thus, the site bridges industrial history and contemporary culture. The Gaswerk itself has developed into a vibrant creative quarter in recent years, housing rehearsal rooms, studios, and cultural initiatives; additionally, there is convenient access with its own parking garage. For the State Theater, the brechtbühne is a strategically smart interim venue: It keeps the fields of drama and ballet operational in a flexible spatial shell while the structural decisions for the future theater quarter are being made. In parallel, the city is further developing temporary open-air offerings at the Gaswerk – an additional component that sets accents in summer and benefits from the proximity to the brechtbühne and the rehearsal rooms. The sum of these special features – industrial patina, short distances, flexible stage technology, and the clear profile as a "small stage for big evenings" – makes the brechtbühne in the Gaswerk one of the most exciting venues in Bavarian Swabia.

On-Site Services: Shuttle, Gastronomy & Stay Between Gas Holder and Ofenhaus

For a smooth theater evening, well-thought-out services are provided at the Gaswerk. Central is the free shuttle between Augsburg-Oberhausen station and the brechtbühne, which operates on performance days starting about 60 minutes before the show begins and returns after the final applause. On-site signs direct to the stops; the front-of-house team coordinates the return trip if needed. The opposite parking garage also guarantees short distances – a plus especially in the cooler months or during evening performances. Those who wish to dine beforehand will find gastronomy directly in the Ofenhaus: The "Ofenhaus" opens Wednesday to Sunday from 6:00 PM and serves as a meeting point before or after the performance. The area around the venue is well developed; paths are illuminated, and a site map helps with orientation. During the theater season, the State Theater publishes monthly overviews ("Leporello"), which include repertoire and dates as well as information on special formats and concert series. For visitors with electric cars, four charging stations are indicated in the parking garage; bicycle parking spaces are also available at the garage. Those arriving by bus can use line 21 to the "Gaswerk" stop, while those coming by tram can take line 2 to "Bahnhof Oberhausen". A tip for those unfamiliar with the area: When navigating via GPS, be sure to check the variants "Am Alten Gaswerk 8" or "Am Alten Gaswerk 7" to ensure the route leads directly to the site; on-site signage reliably directs to the entrance of the brechtbühne. Those who take their time can also take a look at the prominent gas holder before the performance – it is the widely visible landmark of the quarter and frames the special atmosphere of the evening. All these services are coordinated to ensure a relaxed visit: arrive, orient, enter – and you are already in the foyer of the brechtbühne, leaving the city outside for two hours.

Photos & Impressions: Industrial Flair, Clear Lines, and the "Brechtwelle"

The imagery of the brechtbühne in the Gaswerk thrives on the interplay of industrial historical shell and modern theater technology. Outside, built memories shape the site – from the gas holder to brick elements to the sculptural "Brechtwelle", which, with its red aluminum elements, recalls the iconic facade of the former downtown venue. Those who discover this installation in front of the parking garage immediately understand how much the ensemble resonates here: It is a place that does not hide the past but transforms it. Inside, the venue presents itself concentrated: a rising grandstand, a flexible stage, short distances – ideal for drama that relies on text, body, and light; also ideal for ballet, which requires fine movement qualities. Photos published during the Brecht Festival or by the site operator showcase this character: much proximity, clear contours, reduced embellishments. The visual impression continues before the performance: The path from the parking garage over the courtyard paving, the orientation at the site map, the view towards the Ofenhaus – all of this is part of the "arrival". Those who want to gather impressions will find them on the official channels of the Gaswerk; festival profiles and city cultural pages also provide current image series. It is also advisable to arrive a moment earlier on-site and consciously take in the outdoor space: The transition from the open square to the dark auditorium, the muted murmur of voices, the flickering of the house lights – it is these small images that shape the theater experience at the brechtbühne and that one recognizes in photos. Thus, the location tells its own story – visually, sensually, and always with the clear promise: Here, theater happens up close.

Sources:

• Gaswerk Augsburg – Directions, Shuttle & Parking
• Wikipedia – brechtbühne (History, Capacity, Ofenhaus Opening)
• State Theater Augsburg – Venues & Directions (PDF; Price Groups, Public Transport Information)
• Gaswerk Augsburg – State Theater at the Gaswerk (Background Ofenhaus)
• Brecht Festival – Location Profile brechtbühne in the Gaswerk (Arrival, Images, Gastronomy)
• Gaswerk Augsburg – News "Brechtwelle" (Art Installation from Facade Elements)
• Radio Augsburg – Summer Stage at the Gaswerk 2026 (Open-Air Context at the Site)