HLTM

What HLTM does

HLTM (Hessisches Landestheater Marburg GmbH) is a publicly subsidized regional state theatre headquartered in Marburg, Germany, operating four fixed performance venues (Großes Tasch, Kleines Tasch and Mini Tasch at Theater am Schwanhof; Erwin-Piscator-Haus) plus the seasonal open-air Schlossparkbühne. It produces 250–300 performances per season across plays, contemporary drama, musical theatre, children's and youth theatre, readings and live music, and tours up to 110 guest productions annually to regional partner cities including Bad Wildungen, Frankenberg, Fulda, Kirchhain, Lüdenscheid, Rüsselsheim, Siegen and Stadtallendorf.

The organization runs an 18-member in-house acting ensemble supported by its own workshops (costume, mask, props, carpentry, metalwork, paint) and approximately 70–76 total employees. Its core technology footprint is standard for a performing arts institution: Reservix for online ticketing, Piwik/Matomo web analytics, Vimeo for video content, Google Web Fonts for typography, and SSL/TLS for website security — no proprietary technology, AI, or developer-facing API. Programmatically it bundles theatrical productions with subscriptions (Abonnements), gift and value vouchers, an audience council, eight participatory theatre bands, the Theaterpat*innenprojekt, the Freundeskreis supporters' association (400+ members), the ACTeasy inclusive arts partnership, and an accessibility layer (audio description, sign language, accessible venue services).

HLTM is a German GmbH jointly funded by Land Hessen and Universitätsstadt Marburg, and generates revenue through a hybrid model: individual ticket sales (€7.50–€30 across tiers), season subscriptions and Abo-Cards, voucher sales, school and group bookings (10–20% group discounts, Social Fund), Freundeskreis membership contributions, and public subsidies. Co-intendants Eva Lange and Carola Unser-Leichtweiß have led the institution since the 2018/2019 season under the "Marburger Modell" of two regieführende Intendantinnen, positioning HLTM as one of six publicly subsidised theatres in Hessen and the sole state-theatre provider in the Marburg-Biedenkopf district.

Name

HLTM

Legal name

Hessisches Landestheater Marburg GmbH

Website

https://hltm.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HLTM (Hessisches Landestheater Marburg) is a publicly subsidised German state theatre producing 250–300 performances per season across four venues, serving general audiences, schools and university students in Marburg and the wider Hessen region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Live Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts
• Children's youth theatre
• Cultural programming
• Inclusive arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Marburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Primary revenue stream from individual ticket sales across all performance venues. Tickets are sold online (Reservix), at the box office (Theaterkasse, Oberstadt), at approximately 2,200 presale outlets, and at evening box offices at each venue. Prices range from €7.50 (children/youth) to €30 (premium open-air summer theatre). Reduced/student pricing is available with valid ID.
2. Subscriptions and Abo-Cards: Season subscriptions (Abonnements) offer discounted access to multiple performances across the season. Abo-Cards provide repeat-access passes with reduced per-ticket cost.
3. Voucher sales: Gift and value vouchers (Geschenkgutscheine and Wertgutscheine) sold at the box office and online. Valid for 3 years.
4. Membership fees (Freundeskreis): The 'Freundeskreis des Hessischen Landestheaters Marburg e.V.' is a supporters' association with over 400 members who pay membership contributions and make donations to support the theatre's work, especially children's and youth theatre.
5. School and group bookings: Dedicated school booking service for class visits, including subsidised pricing for school groups, a Social Fund to support financially disadvantaged students, and special rates for partner/cooperation schools.
6. Public subsidies: HLTM is funded by the State of Hessen (Land Hessen) and the City of Marburg (Universitätsstadt Marburg), as one of six publicly subsidised theatre operations in Hessen.
7. KUSS Festival: Annual Hessian Children's and Youth Theatre Week (KUSS) generates revenue from guest performance bookings, school participation fees, and associated events.
8. Leporello (postal programme subscription): Monthly programme mailed to subscribers for an annual fee of €10. Free for existing subscribers/abo holders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

HLTM produces and presents live professional theatre performances — including classical drama, contemporary plays, musical theatre, children's/youth theatre, readings, podcasts, and live music concerts — across four indoor venues (Großes Tasch, Kleines Tasch, Mini Tasch, Erwin-Piscator-Haus) and a seasonal open-air stage (Schlossparkbühne), serving Marburg, the surrounding Hessen region, and touring partner cities. Alongside performances, it delivers accompanying services: season subscriptions (Abonnements), gift vouchers (Gutscheine), accessibility services (audio description, sign language), school programmes (Theater & Schule), participatory community theatre bands, the annual KUSS children's and youth theatre festival, and the Freundeskreis supporters' association.

Product overview

HLTM (Hessisches Landestheater Marburg) is a regional public theater company offering live theatrical performances and cultural programming. The portfolio consists of theatrical productions across multiple venues (Großes Tasch, Kleines Tasch, Mini Tasch, Erwin-Piscator-Haus, Schlossparkbühne) featuring plays, contemporary drama, children's theater, and youth programming. Supporting services include season subscriptions (Abonnements), gift certificates (Gutscheine), educational outreach programs (Theater & Schule), theater groups for various age groups (TheaterSpielBanden), accessibility services (audio description, sign language interpretation), and community participation opportunities (Freundeskreis, Zuschauer*innenrat). The theater also organizes the annual KUSS (Hessische Kinder- und Jugendtheaterwoche) festival featuring guest performances from across Germany and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatrical Productions Live theatrical performances including classical drama, contemporary plays, musical theatre, children's and youth theatre, readings, and special events staged at Großes Tasch, Kleines Tasch, Mini Tasch, Erwin-Piscator-Haus, and the open-air Schlossparkbühne. Offered to general audiences aged 3 and above, with accessibility variants (audio description, sign language) for inclusive access.
• KUSS - Hessische Kinder- und Jugendtheaterwoche (Children's & Youth Theatre Week) Annual festival dedicated to children and young people, featuring guest productions from Hessen, Germany, and Europe, plus workshops and interactive theatre experiences. Co-organised with the Staatliches Schulamt Marburg-Biedenkopf and the City of Marburg Cultural Office.
• TheaterSpielBanden (Participatory Theatre Bands) Participatory community theatre groups spanning eight age-group bands (from age 4 upwards), with solidarity-based pricing (€1–€25 per session), enabling active cultural participation beyond passive attendance.
• Theater & Schule (Theatre & School Programme) Educational theatre programme offering curriculum-relevant materials, discounted school tickets, mobile productions for schools and kindergartens, workshops, and teacher support. Targeted at K-12 schools and educational institutions with dedicated contact (Jürgen Sachs).
• Abonnements (Season Subscriptions) Season subscription packages and Abo-Card repeat-access passes offering reduced per-ticket pricing across the season for regular theatre attendees.
• Gutscheine (Gift & Value Vouchers) Gift vouchers and value certificates sold at the box office and online in flexible denominations, valid for 3 years across all ticketed HLTM productions.
• HLTM-Kulturticket Free admission pass offering Philipps-Universität Marburg students access to HLTM productions (excluding premieres and guest performances) via their semester ticket, supported by a partnership with the university.
• Audiodeskription (Audio Description Service) Audio-description accessibility service for blind and visually impaired audiences, including pre-show tactile introductions, exploration of set pieces and costumes, and live audio description during selected performances.
• Zuschauer*innenrat (Audience Council) 13-member audience council that attends all HLTM productions for free and meets regularly with the Intendantinnen, creating a structured audience feedback loop and advocacy body.
• Freundeskreis (Supporters' Association) Supporters' association with 400+ members paying annual membership fees and donations to fund theatre projects (especially children's and youth theatre), serving as a loyal ambassador and donor network.
• Theaterpat*innenprojekt (Theatre Patron Project) Mentorship programme that pairs adult patrons with children and youth from financially disadvantaged families for shared theatre experiences, run in cooperation with Kulturloge Marburg e.V.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250–300 performances per season across four venues, including up to 110 guest performances in the region.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Philipps-Universität MarburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Partnership for the 'HLTM-Kulturticket' programme: students of Philipps-Universität Marburg receive free admission to HLTM performances (excluding premieres and guest performances) by presenting their semester ticket and student/ID card. Available from 10 days before each performance at box offices and all presale outlets. This is a key audience development initiative bringing younger demographics to the theatre.
• EU 'Future Narratives for Planet Earth' project partnersflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHLTM was selected via an Open Call for the multi-year EU project 'Future Narratives for Planet Earth'. The production 'LEBENLIFEHAYAT!' by Arad Dabiri is a key output of this project. The piece premiered at HLTM and is scheduled for touring to Leuven, Belgium, and Graz, Austria in 2026. The EU project involves multiple partner organisations across Europe.
• ACTeasy e.V. (Marburger Theater- und Kunstverein)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACTeasy e.V. is an inclusive theatre and arts association based in Marburg. HLTM has maintained a 'solidarische, empowernde Kooperation' (solidary, empowering cooperation) with ACTeasy since the latter's founding. ACTeasy's 25th anniversary (2024) was celebrated with HLTM's support. ACTeasy runs inclusive theatre groups, activist collectives, workshops, and projects for inclusive cultural participation. Supported by the City of Marburg Cultural Office.
• Kulturloge Marburg e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKulturloge Marburg e.V. partners with HLTM on the 'Theaterpat*innenprojekt' (theatre patron project), which enables children and teenagers from financially disadvantaged families to attend theatre with adult patrons who cover ticket costs. This programme supports cultural participation for all regardless of financial situation.
• Staatliches Schulamt Marburg-BiedenkopfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organiser of the annual KUSS (Hessische Kinder- und Jugendtheaterwoche) festival, together with the City of Marburg's Cultural Office. This partnership enables the delivery of professional children's and youth theatre programming across the region.
• Universitätsstadt Marburg (Cultural Office / Fachdienst Kultur)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Marburg, along with the State of Hessen, is a public funder and co-owner of HLTM GmbH. The Cultural Office (Fachdienst Kultur) co-organises KUSS festival and provides annual financial support to ACTeasy e.V. and other cultural initiatives that partner with HLTM.
• Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt e.V. (blista)minorStrategic or Co-development Partnerblista supports HLTM's audio description service for blind and visually impaired patrons. The service includes pre-show tactile introductions, guide dog access, and limited headphone sets for audio description. This partnership enables inclusive access to theatre for visually impaired audiences.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Berliner Ensemble: Iconic Berlin repertory theatre at Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, with a primarily German-language dramatic repertoire. Broader national brand and touring reach, but otherwise a comparable state-subsidised producing theatre model.
• Deutsches Theater Berlin: Larger and more established Berlin-based repertory theatre with drama and children's theatre programming. Not a direct geographic competitor, but operates a comparable producing-theatre model at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe: State theatre in Baden-Württemberg with opera, ballet, drama, and concert divisions across multiple venues. Comparable multi-disciplinary programming and publicly subsidised regional mandate in a similar-sized German city.
• Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden: Another publicly subsidised state theatre in the State of Hessen, with multiple venues (Großes Haus, Kleines Haus, Wartburg) and a comparable mix of opera, drama, and musical programming. Most directly comparable as a Hessen state-theatre peer with the same funding logic.
• Schauspiel Frankfurt: Dramatic theatre arm of the Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt, also publicly subsidised and operating within the Hessen cultural ecosystem. Comparable product (plays, contemporary drama, musicals) and similar Schauspielstudio training model.
• Theater Heidelberg: Multi-disciplinary publicly subsidised theatre in a comparable German university city, offering drama, musical, and youth programming with a strong international repertoire focus. Similar size, mandate, and Schulprogramm-style outreach work.
• Staatstheater Kassel: Hessen state theatre operating under the same Land Hessen funding regime, with opera, drama, ballet, and concert programming across multiple venues. Comparable mandate ('Theater in die Fläche') and audience development challenges in a regional German market.
• Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar: Thuringian state theatre combining opera, drama, and ballet in a historic university city. Comparable regional mandate, multi-venue structure, and publicly subsidised funding base with touring and education programmes.
• Nationaltheater Mannheim: Baden-Württemberg state theatre offering opera, ballet, drama, and youth theatre across multiple venues. Comparable breadth of programming, Schauspielstudio model, and publicly subsidised operating structure.
• Stadttheater Gießen: Neighbouring publicly subsidised theatre in a comparable university city in Hessen, offering drama, musical, and youth programming. Strongly comparable in scale, audience profile, and regional touring mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theatermarburg
• YouTubevimeo.com/landestheatermarburg
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/landestheatermarburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/landestheatermarburg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hessisches-landestheater-marburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HLTM