Darmstädter Papiertheatersammlung

About the museum

The collection goes back to the Darmstadt teacher Walter Röhler (1911–1974), who was passionate about theatre and over the decades gathered picture sheets for paper theatres as well as fully assembled stages. Such miniature theatres made of printed cardboard were common in middle-class households in the 19th century; Darmstadt theatre painters also designed sets for them.

After Röhler's death, the city of Darmstadt inherited the collection. It was first stored in the depot on the Mathildenhöhe and was then on loan for a long time to a puppetry institute in Bochum, before returning in 1995, when it was sorted and catalogued. Since 1997 it has been open to the public in a municipal building on Darmstraße.

The holdings include over a hundred assembled paper theatres, dozens of complete sets of figures and scenery, several thousand paper theatre sheets and a specialist library. The collection is part of the municipal art collection and has been managed by the Institut Mathildenhöhe since 2019.

Highlights

• Over 100 assembled paper theatres
• Complete sets of figures and scenery
• Several thousand historic paper theatre sheets
• Specialist library on paper theatre

Founded

1997

Operated by

Institut Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt (Stadt Darmstadt)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.