Theater am Puls

What Theater am Puls does

Theater am Puls is a private professional city theater ("Theater der Stadt Schwetzingen") operating from a ~92-seat venue inside the Bassermannhaus in Schwetzingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, under the legal entity theater am puls gGmbH. Founded in 2004 by Joerg Steve Mohr, Sascha Oliver Bauer, and Jürgen Ferber and moved to its permanent home in October 2006, the theater runs a year-round program of drama (Schauspiel), musical theater, children's and youth productions, and readings (Lesungen). The company monetizes ticket sales through three price categories (A: €24/€18/€14; B: €18/€14; C: €6), flexible subscription cards (Theater SparCard, Studenten SparCard), gift certificates, a €50/year Freundeskreis membership, and discounted school-group rates (€6/student). Distribution is multi-channel via the Reservix online platform, telephone reservation, evening box office (EC/credit card since the 2022/23 season), and presale at Schwetzinger Zeitung.

The core technology stack is conventional theatrical production infrastructure — lighting (led by Lars Mohr), sound/video (led by Tobias Disch), and stage sets/props — with no proprietary platform, app, or AI capabilities. The primary digital integrations are third-party ticketing (Reservix) and Google Maps for visitor directions. The company's primary go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer, targeting local residents in the Rhein-Neckar region, Schwetzinger school groups, and theater enthusiasts. Institutionally, the theater is sustained by a deep civic-ecosystem moat: municipal patronage from Stadt Schwetzingen provides the venue and subsidizes the Schüler BonusCard, while the Freundeskreis theater am puls e.V. (founded May 2006), the largest private sponsor, operates the theater gastronomy and channels proceeds back into operations. The 2015 launch of the "junges tap" theater pedagogy program extends the offering into dedicated youth and school programming, including post-show classroom discussions.

Name

Theater am Puls

Legal name

theater am puls gGmbH

Website

https://theater-am-puls.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Theater am Puls is a private 92-seat city theater in Schwetzingen, Germany, presenting year-round drama, musical theater, children's productions, and readings, monetized via tiered ticket pricing, subscription SparCards, gift vouchers, school-group rates, and a Friends Circle membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Performing arts theater
• Live theater productions
• Cultural venue management
• Theater subscription services
• Youth theater pedagogy

Headquarters

HQ city

Eppelheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales across three price categories (A: 24€/18€/14€ reduced, B: 18€/14€ reduced, C: 6€). Approximately 92 seats with free seating.
2. Subscription Cards (SparCards): Flexible subscription model offering 4 performances for the price of 3. Various tiers: Theater SparCard (72€ regular/54€ reduced), Student SparCard (54€), School Bonus Card (24€ for Schwetzinger students). Valid for 1 year from purchase date.
3. Gift Certificates: Gift vouchers available for purchase at box office, presale locations, or online. Can be printed at home or mailed with festive packaging.
4. Friendship Circle Membership: Annual membership fees (50€) for the Freundeskreis theater am puls e.V. support association. Members operate theater gastronomy, with proceeds going to theater support.
5. School Group Bookings: Reduced school group pricing at 6€ per person for Schwetzinger schools, with one free chaperone per 10 paying students. Schools outside Schwetzinger pay regular rates with similar chaperone policy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Theater am Puls operates a 92-seat intimate professional theater venue in the Bassermannhaus in Schwetzingen, Germany, presenting a year-round program of drama, musical theater, children's and youth theater, and readings. The offering is supported by flexible subscription cards (SparCards), reduced school-group pricing, gift vouchers, and a theater pedagogy program ('junges tap') that develops youth productions in collaboration with local schools.

Product overview

Theater am Puls is a professional theater venue in Schwetzingen, Germany, operated by theater am puls gGmbH. The core offering is the theater itself (approximately 92 seats in the Bassermannhaus) presenting drama, musical theater, children's and youth productions year-round. The portfolio includes subscription cards (Theater SparCard, Studenten SparCard, Schüler BonusCard), gift vouchers, and the theater pedagogy program 'junges tap.' The support association Freundeskreis provides additional membership benefits including exclusive events. The theater also offers school programs, classroom plays, workshops, and operates a flexible subscription model unlike traditional season subscriptions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• junges tap: Theater pedagogical project for children and youth, launched in October 2015, offering productions and educational programs for schools.

Products and services

• Theater Performances (Venue)
• Theater SparCard

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stadt SchwetzingencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2006City of Schwetzingen is the primary institutional partner supporting theater am puls as 'Theater der Stadt Schwetzingen'. Provided the fixed venue in Bassermannhaus and ongoing support for cultural programming.
• Freundeskreis theater am puls e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2006Support association founded in May 2006 to promote and fund the theater. Members operate theater gastronomy in self-management, with net proceeds donated to theater. Largest private sponsor. Organized special events for members including openings, winter productions, Christmas readings, and summer festivals.
• Schwetzinger ZeitungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal newspaper serves as physical presale location for tickets at Carl-Theodor-Str. 2, Schwetzingen. Also provides press coverage and media partnership.
• ReservixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary online ticketing platform partner providing online ticket sales, print-at-home functionality, and network of presale locations throughout Germany.
• Schloss SchwetzingenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Bühne im Park' summer outdoor performances in the castle gardens (2020). Also served as performance venue for 'Ein mittelschönes Leben' in Seepferdchengarten.
• KiTZ – TheaterkumpaneiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGuest performance troupe presenting 'Der Kleine Prinz' (for children 6+). Partnership for touring family productions.
• theater en miniatureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGuest performance troupe presenting 'Glückskind' (based on 'Der Teufel mit den 3 goldenen Haaren'). Partnership for touring family productions.
• Hinz&KunztminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamburger Straßenmagazin (street paper) partnered for 'Ein mittelschönes Leben' production to support their important social work and promote awareness of homelessness.
• Eventfirma WiventminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEvent company from Schwetzingen that co-organized the 'Bühne im Park' summer 2020 program at Schloss Schwetzingen.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Theater im Delphi (Berlin): Intimate Berlin venue with mixed repertoire (drama, musical, readings) and youth programming. Comparable by intimate-venue business model though operating in a different metropolitan market.
• Schlosstheater Schwetzingen: Operates a theater in the same Schwetzingen cultural complex, sharing the same regional audience and municipal support context as Theater am Puls. Most direct local peer.
• Zimmertheater Stuttgart: Small intimate theater venue in Stuttgart with similar mixed-repertoire programming and intimate-venue economics. Closest comparable by venue scale and business model.

Regional players

• Mannheimer Sommer: Seasonal open-air performing arts festival in the Rhein-Neckar region. Comparable by regional audience overlap and mixed-genre programming, but distinct seasonal format.
• Theater Konstanz: Stadttheater in another Baden-Württemberg city with similar Schauspiel, Musiktheater, and Kinder- und Jugendtheater programming. Comparable repertoire mix but larger venue portfolio.
• Theater Pforzheim: Mid-sized regional Stadttheater in Baden-Württemberg offering multi-genre programming including children's and youth theater, serving as a structural analog to Theater am Puls at larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe: State theater in nearby Karlsruhe offering Schauspiel, Musiktheater, and youth programming across a much larger venue portfolio. Overlapping repertoire categories with Theater am Puls.
• Nationaltheater Mannheim: Large multi-venue performing arts institution in the same Rhein-Neckar metropolitan region. Competes for the same theater-going population but at significantly larger scale and broader repertoire.
• Schauspiel Stuttgart: Major state-funded drama venue within Stuttgart's Staatstheater system. Overlaps in drama and youth programming but operates at materially larger scale and public funding base.
• Theater Heidelberg: Stadttheater operating multiple venues in nearby Heidelberg within the Rhein-Neckar region. Competes for overlapping audience segments including theater, musical, and youth programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theaterampuls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theater-am-puls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Theater am Puls