Article on the safety of the Stadttheater

When the Stadttheater was inaugurated in 1864, people who grudged Hamann his success, spread the rumor that he had used old, rotten material for the new building (details about the materials follow). Their imagination had no end in justifying the new theater’s lack of safety. After two years of use, it turned out that there was absolutely no safety issue with regard to the audience. However; the situation was different for the people behind the stage. We remember for instance a staircase without railing which was only changed after several accidents even involving the director, had happened. Another time recently, an actor broke through a wooden board of the floor, which could have been serious if the thick padding of his costume had not prevented severe injury. We don’t know whether there should be a safety inspection before further accidents happen or if only more incidents will alter the situation.