Free Theater Forum Dusseldorf

What Free Theater Forum Dusseldorf does

FFT Düsseldorf (Forum Freies Theater) is a publicly funded, non-profit performing arts institution headquartered at KAP1, Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1 in Düsseldorf. Founded in 1999 and relocated to the KAP1 building in 2014, it operates two main stages (Bühne I and Bühne II) plus a foyer and curates a year-round program of contemporary theater, dance, performance and puppetry aimed at adult audiences, young people (Young FFT, Theater + Schule) and university communities including the Heinrich-Heine-Universität and Kunstakademie Düsseldorf.

Its core product is a mixed program of in-house productions and co-productions, notably the year-long climate series "Die Argonause" (2025-2026), the biennial "Claiming Common Spaces" / "Shift the Vibe" festival co-produced with tanzhaus nrw, and the Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival. Its digital and technology layer is built around the ON/LIVE program, which has produced interactive installations such as FFT Cubes 2.0 (developed with MIREVI at Hochschule Düsseldorf), interactive fiction works such as Loulu, and digital theater productions such as MYKE with onlinetheater.live and AFTERLIVES, a Germany-Thailand co-production.

FFT has no commercial revenue model. Its economics rest on institutional public funding from the Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf and the Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes NRW, augmented by project grants from Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Kunststiftung NRW and Fonds Darstellende Künste, plus ticket revenue via Reservix and co-production income from partners. It co-leads the federally backed Bündnis Internationaler Produktionshäuser, a seven-venue alliance that functions as its primary distribution and co-production network across Germany.

Name

Free Theater Forum Dusseldorf

Legal name

FFT Düsseldorf

Website

https://www.fft-duesseldorf.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FFT Düsseldorf is a publicly funded, non-profit performing arts institution at KAP1 that produces and presents contemporary theater, dance, performance and digital works for general, youth and university audiences in NRW, operating within the Bündnis Internationaler Produktionshäuser network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

akta.pro primary industry

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Contemporary theater production
• Live performance programming
• Independent theater company
• Dance and digital culture

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FFT Dusseldorf is an international production house and presenting venue for independent contemporary performing arts, operating from the KAP1 building at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1 in Dusseldorf. It produces and presents live theater, dance, performance art, and digital/hybrid cultural programs across two main stages (Buhne I and Buhne II), the Foyer, and through partner venues in the Alliance of International Production Houses. Programming combines locally produced and co-produced contemporary works, festival events, youth programs, and digital culture series aimed at socially relevant themes such as climate, digital platforms, and diversity.

Product overview

FFT Düsseldorf is a performing arts venue operating as part of the KAP1 building at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1. The venue offers a diverse program of live performances, theater productions, and digital arts initiatives. Its core products include regular theater performances on two stages (Bühne I and Bühne II), along with specialized program series such as The Argonause (a year-long climate and travel project with Chez Company) and ON/LIVE (a digital workshop series examining theater and social media). The venue also produces and co-presents festivals including Shift the Vibe/Claiming Common Spaces and the Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival, and collaborates on digital products like the FFT Cubes interactive installation and the Loulu interactive fiction game.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ON/LIVE: Digital workshop at FFT exploring theater and digital culture, social media, education and society.
• Die Argonause
• Claiming Common Spaces

Products and services

• The Argonause (Die Argonause) A climate-focused year-long program series exploring sustainable travel and ecological transformation, featuring monthly performances, workshops, talks, and podcasts in cooperation with the polymedia artist collective Chez Company.
• ON/LIVE Digital Workshop Series Annual festival and workshop program at FFT exploring the intersection of theater, social media, education, and society through performances, workshops, lectures, and hands-on digital formats.
• Shift the Vibe / Claiming Common Spaces Festival A four-day festival co-hosted with tanzhaus nrw and the Alliance of International Production Houses, featuring performances, encounters, parties, and discussions under the motto 'Shift the Vibe'.
• onlinetheater.live (MYKE - Hacking the Manosphere) Internet theater productions investigating online radicalization and digital culture, including the award-winning MYKE production examining antifeminist content bubbles on TikTok, presented with internet theater collective onlinetheater.live.
• FFT Cubes Hybrid playable interactive furniture / installation created in collaboration with Deutsche Oper am Rhein and MIREVI, functioning as interactive performance puzzles in the Foyer space as part of the Digital Foyer project.
• Loulu An award-winning interactive fiction examining hate and incitement online, developed as a mobile game that can be downloaded and played on smartphones.
• Junges FFT (Young FFT) Programming dedicated to young audiences including the Young FFT schedule, Theater + School educational programs, FFT Cubes, and participation opportunities for children and youth.
• 2nd Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival A four-day puppetry festival curated by artist duo half past selber schuld, featuring international artists presenting theater, performances, films, workshops, talks, short film competitions, and puppetry slams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Productions by associated artists have been presented in over 20 countries internationally.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• tanzhaus nrwcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFT and tanzhaus nrw co-present the annual festival 'Claiming Common Spaces' as part of the Alliance of International Production Houses. They also co-host the 'Shift the Vibe' season opening festival and share programming resources for dance and performance.
• HAU Hebbel am Ufer BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Alliance of International Production Houses (Bündnis Internationaler Produktionshäuser). FFT co-produces with HAU and shares touring and co-presentation arrangements for productions within the alliance.
• HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember venue of the Alliance of International Production Houses. Enables co-productions and touring arrangements for FFT productions across Germany.
• Kampnagel HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember venue of the Alliance of International Production Houses.
• Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt am MaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember venue of the Alliance of International Production Houses.
• PACT Zollverein EssencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember venue of the Alliance of International Production Houses.
• Bündnis Internationaler Produktionshäuser (Alliance of International Production Houses)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFT Düsseldorf is one of 7 member venues in the Bündnis Internationaler Produktionshäuser. The alliance jointly funds, co-produces, and tours contemporary performing arts across Germany. Annual festivals such as 'Claiming Common Spaces' are presented jointly. The alliance is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
• Green Feather Foundation (USA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUS-based foundation supporting puppet film projects. FFT co-presents the 48 Hours Puppet Film Challenge in cooperation with the Green Feather Foundation and Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival.
• Celluloid Golem Puppet Art FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFFT co-presents the 2nd Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival, curated by the artist duo half past selber schuld. Festival includes puppet theater, films, workshops, and the 48 Hours Puppet Film Challenge.
• Theatermuseum DüsseldorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Düsseldorf Theatre Museum collaborates with FFT on exhibitions and archival projects, including the 'Archivgemurmel' exhibition for the 25th anniversary and the Celluloid Golem festival exhibition.
• Heinrich-Heine-Universität DüsseldorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents from the Institute for Media and Cultural Studies at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf collaborated on the 'Archivgemurmel' performative exhibition for FFT's 25th anniversary.
• Kunstakademie DüsseldorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFT collaborated with Kunstakademie Düsseldorf on 'Argonause meets Kunstakademie', a performance event within the 'Die Argonause' climate series.
• onlinetheater.livecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnlinetheater.live is an internet theater collective and key FFT partner for digital culture programming. Their co-production 'MYKE – Hacking the Manosphere' premiered at FFT, won the FAUST 2025 award and the NRW State Promotion Award. The collective's work is a core part of the ON/LIVE festival.
• Chez CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based polymedia artist collective and key FFT partner for climate-themed programming. Their year-long project 'Die Argonause' (The Argonause) explores sustainable travel and ecological transformation, with monthly events from May 2025 to May 2026.
• half past selber schuldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDüsseldorf-based German-Israeli artist duo (Ilanit Magarshak-Riegg and Sir Ladybug Beetle), widely recognized as inventors of the stage comic. Curate the Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival at FFT. Have produced multiple works at FFT including 'Quantum', 'What Robots Need to Learn', and 'Schattenkunst und Overheadprojektoren'.
• SophieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSophiensæle Berlin co-produced the 'AFTERLIVES' performance presented at FFT, a Germany-Thailand digital co-production exploring queer politics of death and care.
• brut WienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna-based performing arts venue co-producing the 'AFTERLIVES' performance with FFT.
• ROXY BirsfeldenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss venue co-producing 'AFTERLIVES' performance with FFT.
• Burgtheater WienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChez Company has collaborated with Burgtheater Vienna on productions, connecting FFT's partner artists with a major Austrian stage.
• Deutsche Oper BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChez Company has created productions including 'Themakingofblond' and 'Karaoper' at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, linking FFT's partner artists with a major Berlin opera house.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HAU Hebbel am Ufer Berlin: Berlin-based independent theater production house and co-member of the Bündnis Internationaler Produktionshäuser. Operates three stages with a similar contemporary, experimental, and international programming mandate and co-produces directly with FFT.
• Kampnagel Hamburg: Hamburg-based independent performing arts venue and fellow alliance member. Stages contemporary dance, theater, and performance with a comparable international, experimental profile and shares the Claiming Common Spaces festival with FFT.
• HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste Dresden: Dresden-based performing arts center and fellow Alliance of International Production Houses member. Comparable profile as a contemporary dance, music, and performance venue with co-production and touring arrangements with FFT.
• Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt: Frankfurt-based independent performing arts venue and alliance co-member. Comparable scale, contemporary programming mandate, and co-production/touring relationship with FFT.
• PACT Zollverein Essen: Essen-based performing arts venue and fellow Alliance member. Comparable contemporary dance and performance programming with co-production and touring links to FFT.
• tanzhaus nrw: Düsseldorf-based dance house and co-host of FFT's Claiming Common Spaces and Shift the Vibe festivals. Directly comparable contemporary dance and performance mandate, geographically overlapping FFT's home market.
• Sophiensæle Berlin: Berlin independent venue for contemporary dance and performance. Comparable scale and experimental mandate; already a co-production partner on FFT's AFTERLIVES project.

Regional players

• brut Wien: Vienna-based performing arts producer and co-production partner on FFT's AFTERLIVES. Operates in a different national market but pursues a directly comparable contemporary, international, co-production-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Münchner Kammerspiele: Munich's leading independent theater and one of Germany's most prominent contemporary stages. Larger scale and broader resources than FFT, but directly comparable programming philosophy in contemporary and socially engaged theater.
• Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus: Established municipal theater in the same Düsseldorf market as FFT. Operates a much larger stage and broader repertoire, providing the dominant local incumbent against which FFT's niche positioning competes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fftduesseldorf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqMjBNJMmEvzW9oSzx0x8cA
• Instagraminstagram.com/fft_duesseldorf
• TikToktiktok.com/@fft_duesseldorf
• Facebookfacebook.com/fftduesseldorf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Free Theater Forum Dusseldorf