With more than 500 employees, the Dortmund Theater is one of Germany’s largest theaters. Since its founding in 1904, it has shaped the city’s cultural life. Today, it brings together six independent artistic disciplines under one roof: from opera and drama to ballet and the Academy for Theater and Digitality. With its diverse program, the theater reaches a broad audience far beyond the region.
Anyone looking for a performance wants to quickly find out what’s playing and when, read more about the ensemble, and buy tickets. For the relaunch, a digital platform was therefore created that combines navigation with the cultural experience. This included services ranging from conception and design to development and technical integration, as well as long-term website support.
Project Overview and Objectives
The Dortmund Theater is one of Germany’s major multidisciplinary theaters. Opera, ballet, drama, the Philharmonic Orchestra, children’s and youth theater, and the Academy for Theater and Digitality bring together diverse perspectives under one roof.
The new platform was designed to showcase this diversity without overwhelming visitors. The goal was to create a website that brings the theater to life as a cultural hub while reliably fulfilling everyday functions: finding events, exploring performance schedules, accessing information about the ensemble, and purchasing tickets.
Added Value for the Theater
With the relaunch, Theater Dortmund has gained a digital home that goes far beyond the function of a traditional event website. The combination of expressive design, evocative imagery, and a clear information architecture allows visitors to experience the theater’s cultural identity online. The German Design Award and the Annual Multimedia Award (Silver) confirm the quality of our solution.
The platform also delivers tangible benefits in day-to-day operations. Performance schedules, cast information, the media library, ticketing, and other digital offerings integrate seamlessly, making it easier for visitors to access the diverse program. In TYPO3, all departments manage their content on a shared platform, and thanks to our long-term collaboration, the platform is continuously being refined.
Use Cases
Experiencing cultural identity digitally
The relaunch aimed to bring the unique identity of the Dortmund Theater into the digital space. Expressive imagery, video trailers, and an interactive media platform create an atmospheric impression of the theater right on the website. Large-scale images and moving images give each department space to convey its own atmosphere and allow visitors to immediately experience the ensemble’s passion.
The website also deliberately sets its own design accents. The high-contrast interplay of light and dark visuals, along with the visually striking design, captures the emotional range of the theater’s program. The result is a distinctive digital presence that reflects the theater’s character and communicates the blend of culture, information, and user experience in a contemporary way.
Diversity under one roof
Theater Dortmund brings together six independent divisions, each with different programs, target audiences, and communication needs. The new TYPO3 platform preserves their independence while bringing them together into a cohesive offering. Navigation and an intelligent search function with suggestions and filters answer the questions people have before every theater visit: What’s coming up next, who’s on stage, and how do I get a ticket?
The platform is complemented by numerous integrated services. The direct connection to the Eventim ticketing system enables a seamless process from the event schedule to ticket purchase. An ensemble database, a media library, multilingual support, and restricted-access areas for staff and the press create a powerful platform that has been continuously refined since its relaunch.
Rethinking Culture in the Digital Age
A trip to the theater begins long before the curtain rises. Digital platforms are therefore an integral part of the cultural experience. They provide guidance, spark interest, and accompany visitors from the initial spark of inspiration all the way to the evening at the theater. This allows cultural institutions to better engage their audiences both before and after the actual visit.
Theater Dortmund now has a digital platform for its entire program. The six artistic disciplines remain distinct, while visitors can access performances, ensemble information, and tickets through a single platform. The ongoing development of the website is part of the project and is not complete with the relaunch.
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