Consol Theater
The Consol Theater is part of the “kultur.gebiet CONSOL” on the former Consolidation coal mine site in Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck. Since its opening in 2001, the house has developed into a lively theatre with a great responsibility for cultural education and social interaction between people of different ages and backgrounds. The often award-winning productions of Consol Theater deal specifically with the realities of life of the mostly young audience. The productions are performed in Gelsenkirchen but also touring through Germany, Europe and the world. Every season the theatre develops about three new productions for different age groups.
The plays are not only performed in the theatre’s repertoire, but also go on tour at home and abroad. Making theatre not only for Gelsenkirchen citizens* inside, but also with them, is the central idea of the Volxbühne am Consol Theater. Keywords such as participation or Self-empowerment is implemented in the Consol Theater with artistic projects. Amateurs from all over the region always work with professional directors, theatre pedagogues and musicians. More than 120 active people from 6 to 92 years of age are regularly on stage at Consol Theater, singing, reading and dancing together and create their own world in projects and courses, some of which span generations. In numerous (social-)pedagogical projects, such as the annual language camp or the ten-month vocational qualification measure !STAGE, young people are given new perspectives for their own lives with the means of theatre. Since 2001, more than 200 young people between school and work have found orientation for their future life with theatre resources. In addition, the Consol Theater, as an experienced event house, has become a second home for many Gelsenkirchen institutions, from music schools to jazz initiatives. In addition to the main stage with a maximum of 180 seats, the Consol Theater has a small stage, a rehearsal room and the atmospheric cellar bar, which can seat up to 80 people.