Theater of Time

What Theater of Time does

Theater der Zeit GmbH is a privately held German theater magazine and publishing house founded in 1946 and headquartered in Berlin (Winsstraße 72, 10405 Berlin). The company operates as the leading dedicated publication covering the German-speaking theater landscape (D/A/CH — Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and runs a multi-format portfolio: the monthly flagship magazine 'Theater der Zeit', sub-brand magazines 'double' (puppet, figure, and object theater) and 'ixypsilonzett' (performing arts for young audiences), plus an extensive book publishing program across series including Recherchen (scholarly research, €9.50–€45 per volume), Arbeitsbuch (annual working journal), Lektionen (educational guides), backstage (artist portraits), Dialog and Scène (international drama translations), and the Digitale Reihe (digital publications).

The technology stack centers on a proprietary digital publishing platform at tdz.de delivering the TdZ+ subscription product (Standard at €5.99/month, Professional at €12.50/month), an online shop, theater and author directories, newsletter infrastructure, and podcast distribution on Spotify. AI integrations are operationally focused: ElevenLabs provides text-to-speech for podcasts and an AI phone assistant; Langdock handles internal email processing on EU-hosted servers; Anthropic's Claude is the underlying LLM. Editorial output is supported by a network of regional correspondents across all 16 German states plus Austria and Switzerland.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix including recurring print and digital subscriptions, one-time book and magazine sales (single issues from €8.99), audio/multimedia sales (€9.99 CDs and downloads), advertising and job-listing placements for business customers, and open-access publications monetized via institutional partnerships. Direct-to-consumer distribution runs through the proprietary online shop, retail bookstores across D/A/CH, and home-delivery subscription services; digital content is delivered globally through the TdZ+ platform and music/podcast marketplaces. The customer base spans theater professionals and academics, students and educators, theater-enthusiastic general readers, and theater institutions, segmented horizontally without concentration in any single account. The company is independently owned, has received the Deutscher Verlagspreis in 2019 and 2025 and the Deutscher Buchhandlungspreis in 2022, and supports the Kurt Wolff Stiftung philanthropically.

Name

Theater of Time

Legal name

Theater der Zeit GmbH

Website

https://tdz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Theater der Zeit is a Berlin-based German theater magazine and publishing house, founded 1946, covering the D/A/CH theater landscape through monthly magazines, scholarly book series, digital subscriptions, and podcasts for professionals, students, and enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanities & Arts Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Theater magazine publishing
• Performing arts criticism
• Scholarly theater books
• Digital theater subscriptions
• Arts journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital subscriptions for Theater der Zeit magazine, including various subscription tiers and single issue purchases
2. Book Sales: Sale of books through multiple series including Recherchen, Arbeitsbuch, Lektionen, backstage, Dialog, and special editions
3. Digital Subscriptions (TdZ+): Online access subscriptions (Standard and Professional tiers) for reading articles and books digitally
4. Music CDs and Multimedia: Sale of theater music recordings and audio productions
5. Open Access Publications: Free access to selected academic publications, monetized through institutional partnerships and visibility
6. Advertising and Sponsorships: Business customer services including job listings and advertisement placement

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Theater der Zeit publishes a monthly German-language magazine on contemporary theater criticism, alongside specialized magazines (double for puppet/object theater, ixypsilonzett for children's and youth theater), a catalog of scholarly and educational book series, special thematic editions, audio CDs, podcasts, and a paid digital reading subscription platform (TdZ+ Standard and Professional tiers). It also operates theater and author directories covering venues across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Product overview

Theater der Zeit is a German theater magazine and publishing house offering a comprehensive portfolio of print and digital products. The core offerings include the monthly magazine 'Theater der Zeit' covering theater criticism and news, plus specialized magazines 'double' for puppet/figure theater and 'ixypsilonzett' for children's and youth theater. The publishing division produces multiple book series including 'Recherchen' (scholarly research), 'Arbeitsbuch' (annual working journal), 'Lektionen' (educational guides), 'backstage' (artist portraits), 'Dialog' and 'Scène' (international plays), 'Digitale Reihe' (digital publications), and themed special issues. Additional offerings include audio CDs, podcasts, newsletters, digital subscriptions (TdZ+), theater directories, and author directories. The company also integrates AI-powered tools including phone and chat assistants for customer service and text-to-speech for podcast content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• double: Magazine for puppet, figure and object theater (Puppen-, Figuren- und Objekttheater)
• ixypsilonzett
• TdZ+
• Theater der Zeit Spezial

Products and services

• Theater der Zeit (Monthly Magazine) Monthly print and digital magazine providing theater criticism, interviews, reports, and thematic issues covering contemporary German-speaking theater for theater professionals, students, and enthusiasts.
• double (Puppet/Figure Theater Magazine) Specialty magazine focused on puppet, figure, and object theater including contemporary circus and performing arts for young audiences.
• ixypsilonzett (Children's & Youth Theater Magazine) Magazine covering performing arts for young audiences, children's and youth theater education, cultural participation, and multilingualism.
• Theater der Zeit Spezial (Special Editions) Themed special editions of Theater der Zeit focusing on theater landscapes of specific countries and inclusion topics.
• Recherchen (Scholarly Book Series) Scholarly book series presenting academic research, essays, and in-depth studies on contemporary theater practices and history for academic researchers and theater professionals.
• Arbeitsbuch (Annual Working Journal) Annual working journal featuring thematic articles on theater trends, contemporary performance spaces, and practical theater work with visual documentation.
• Lektionen (Educational Book Series) Educational book series providing guides and frameworks for understanding and creating contemporary theater, covering dramaturgy, puppetry, costume design, and theater pedagogy.
• backstage (Artist Portrait Book Series) Book series featuring portraits and interviews with prominent theater actors and actresses, exploring their artistic approaches and careers.
• Dialog (International Theater Plays Book Series) Book series presenting contemporary international theater plays with German translations, focusing on works from specific countries and regions.
• Scène (French-Language Theater Plays Series) Book series featuring new French-language theater plays with German translations, part of the international drama publication line.
• Digitale Reihe (Digital Publication Series) Digital-only book series covering robotics in theater, digital transformation, and contemporary theater studies in digital format.
• Edition Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding Co-published book series with the Bavarian Theater Academy August Everding covering performing arts, body studies, and future conferences.
• Außer den Reihen (Special Publications) Special publication series outside the regular publishing lines, covering dance in the GDR, improvisation theater, and other special theater projects.
• Musik (Audio CDs and Digital Downloads) Audio CDs and digital music releases including theater music, audio plays, and musical recordings from theater productions, distributed via print, download, and streaming platforms.
• TdZ+ Digital Subscription Digital subscription platform providing online access to Theater der Zeit articles, books, working journals, and digital publications in Standard (€5.99/month) and Professional (€12.50/month) tiers, with €1 trial and day-pass options.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kurt Wolff Stiftung (Kurt Wolf Stiftung)minorOthersTheater der Zeit supports the work of the Kurt Wolff Stiftung which promotes a diverse publishing and literature scene. This is a philanthropic/support relationship rather than commercial partnership.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• S. Fischer Verlag: Large German general-interest publisher with significant theater play publication through its programs. Competes with Theater der Zeit's Dialog and Scène international drama series for rights, translators, and theater book buyers.
• Rowohlt Verlag: Major German trade publisher with a performing arts and theater criticism catalog. Competes broadly for the same professional and academic readers who purchase Theater der Zeit's book series and book reviews.
• Suhrkamp Verlag: Major German literary publisher with a strong performing arts catalog including edition suhrkamp theater series. A broad incumbent that competes in the scholarly theater book market (analogous to Theater der Zeit's Recherchen series) and for the same institutional and academic customers.
• Kiepenheuer & Witsch: Cologne-based German publisher with theater play editions and cultural criticism titles. A broader incumbent that overlaps with Theater der Zeit in drama publication and the German theater-book buyer audience.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Bühne: German theater trade journal covering performance, policy, and labor issues in German-speaking theaters. Competes with Theater der Zeit for institutional subscriptions, theater professional readership, and advertising from German theaters and festivals.
• Alexander Verlag Berlin: Berlin-based German publisher focused on contemporary theater, dance, and performance texts, including international drama in translation. Closely comparable to Theater der Zeit's specialized book series, especially Dialog and Außer den Reihen.
• Theater Heute: Germany's other leading theater magazine, founded in 1959 and published biannually with yearbook and monthly digital editions. The closest direct competitor to Theater der Zeit for advertising, subscribers, and influence in the DACH theater criticism market.
• Verlag der Autoren: Frankfurt-based German theater publisher specializing in contemporary German-language plays. Comparable to Theater der Zeit's Dialog series; targets the same professional theater market and shares the same German theater ecosystem.

Emerging players

• nachtkritik.de: Leading independent online theater criticism platform in Germany with a network of freelance critics. A digital-native alternative to Theater der Zeit that pressures its paid subscription value proposition, particularly among younger readers.

Others

• The MIT Press (Performing Arts Journals): Academic publisher of theater and performance studies journals (e.g., Theater Survey, PAJ). Adjacent to Theater der Zeit's academic publishing arm (Recherchen series) for the international theater studies scholarly audience, though not in the same German market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theaterderzeit
• Facebookfacebook.com/theaterderzeit
• Instagraminstagram.com/theaterderzeit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theater-der-zeit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 of Time