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About

The Theaterschiff Maria Helena in Saarbrücken is a unique floating cultural venue, transformed from a historic freight barge into Germany’s first indoor theater ship. Built in Strasbourg in 1911 as a péniche, the vessel spent decades transporting coal, grain, and other goods before being repurposed in 2006 by theater director Frank Lion. Today, the ship’s cargo hold has been redesigned to host around 150 spectators, with a stage, artist cabins, and a bar, creating an intimate atmosphere on the water. Anchored at the Willi-Graf-Ufer near the Alte Brücke, the Maria Helena presents a diverse program of plays, concerts, readings, and exhibitions, often in collaboration with schools, cultural institutions, and international ensembles. Its mobility allows it to travel along the Saar and Mosel, extending Saarbrücken’s cultural reach across borders. Theaterschiff Maria Helena embodies the fusion of heritage and innovation, offering audiences a memorable experience where history and performance meet aboard a living piece of river history.

Saarbrücken Germany

Location

The Theaterschiff Maria Helena is located at Willi-Graf-Ufer 66111 in Saarbrücken, moored close to the Old Bridge near the bustling St. Johanner Markt area in the city center. This unique floating theater, housed on a historic converted cargo ship, offers an intimate and unusual venue for theater, cabaret, concerts, and other cultural performances on the water. Nearby, visitors can explore Saarbrücken’s charming old town with its cafes, shops, and historic landmarks, including the Saarländisches Staatstheater and Museum in der Schlosskirche. The location provides a scenic riverside atmosphere combined with a vibrant urban cultural scene easily accessible by public transport and within walking distance of many central Saarbrücken attractionsTheaterschiff Maria Helena.

Theaterschiff Maria Helena

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