Built 1891-1892 by Heinrich Seeling as "Neues Theater am Schiffbauerdamm" (also simply known as "Neues Theater"). Neo-baroque interior decoration by Ernst Westphal. Opened 19 Nov 1892 with Goethe's "Iphigenie auf Tauris". 1903-1905 installation of an orchestra pit and a revolving stage. 1903-1906 directed by Max Reinhardt. 1912 renamed "Monti's Operettentheater", 1916 renamed "Neues Operettentheater". 1925 renamed "Theater am Schiffbauerdamm". 1931 renamed "Deutsches Nationaltheater am Schiffbauerdamm". Damaged by bombs in 1944. Subsequently rebuilding and installation of a "government box" in the auditorium. 1954 re-opened as "Berliner Ensemble", founded by Helene Weigel and Bertolt Brecht. 1999-2000 renovations and alterations. Originally 810 seats (+ standing), ca. 1940: 781 seats, today: 678 seats.

Notable world premieres:

• Gerhart Hauptmann: Die Weber (26 Feb 1893)
• Leo Fall: Der liebe Augustin (3 Feb 1912)
• Carl Zuckmayer: Der fröhliche Weinberg (22 Dec 1925)
• Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill: Die Dreigroschenoper (31 Aug 1928)
• Ödön von Horváth: Italienische Nacht (20 Mar 1931)
• Bertolt Brecht: Leben des Galilei (3rd version, 15 Jan 1957)
• Helmut Baierl: Frau Flinz (8 May 1961)
• Heiner Müller: Zement (12 October 1973)
• Peter Turrini: Grillparzer im Pornoladen (20 Feb 1993)
• Rolf Hochhuth: Wessis in Weimar (10 Feb 1993)
• George Tabori: Die Brecht-Akte (8 Jan 2000)

Link: www.berliner-ensemble.de, EUTA, Wikipedia: Berliner Ensemble, Wikipedia: Theater am Schiffbauerdamm