The Last Gem
Das Letzte Kleinod (The Last Gem) is a German documentary theater ensemble that operates from a 130-meter, ten-car railway train called the Ozeanblaue Zug, touring site-specific performances at 30+ stations annually across Germany and the Netherlands, and serving general audiences, youth, and commissioned public-sector clients through ticket sales and cultural grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSchiffdorf, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Last Gem does
Das Letzte Kleinod (The Last Gem) is a German documentary theater ensemble headquartered at the historic Geestenseth railway station in Schiffdorf, Germany, and operating from the Ozeanblaue Zug — a 130-meter, ten-car railway train that has been renovated and officially authorized to run on public rail networks. The company produces and tours site-specific documentary theater performances across roughly 30 stations per year in Germany and the Netherlands, drawing on oral history and regional themes including migration, industrial heritage (GDR steel, coal mining, textiles), seafaring, war, and regional identity; the portfolio spans approximately two dozen productions since 2003 such as HÜTTENWERK, SIELHÄFEN, HOTEL LUNIK, WILHELM*INA, and GESALZENE WASSERMELONEN. A dedicated children and youth division, Junges Kleinod, runs international projects including NASSES LAND with regional rail operator evb and refugee theater collaborations such as ID:BABYLON and the OVERSEAS workshop with Goethe-Institut Alexandria.
The business model blends earned revenue from ticket sales (sold online via das-letzte-kleinod.de and a third-party ticketing backend, and by phone) with recurring institutional funding from German federal and state cultural programs, EU cultural initiatives, and foundations including Fonds Soziokultur and Stiftung Niedersachsen; the company also generates B2B revenue through commissioned productions (notably the 'Farewell' Columbusbahnhof series for Bremenports) and risk-sharing coproductions with state theaters such as Staatstheater Cottbus, Hans-Otto-Theater Potsdam, and Stadttheater Bremerhaven. Pricing is not publicly tiered, with pay-as-you-go tickets varying by production and venue and advance booking required due to limited seating capacity on the train. Distribution runs through the company's website, Facebook presence, regional press coverage (Märkische Oderzeitung, Weser Kurier, Nachtkritik, Die Welt, TAZ, Oder-Spree-Fernsehen), and direct audience engagement at touring venues.
Das Letzte Kleinod is structured as a privately held German civil law partnership (GbR), Das Letzte Kleinod GbR, controlled entirely by its two founders: artistic director Jens-Erwin Siemssen and Juliane Lenssen, who heads the Junges Kleinod division. The company has 1-10 employees, no parent or holding structure, no subsidiaries, no external equity funding rounds, and no patents. It has won several high-credibility awards, including the Federal Theater Prize of the German Federal Government (2016), the Innovation Prize Socioculture for Kabul – Homeland and Hell (2020), and the Sustainability Award of the Lower Saxony Foundation (2022).
The Last Gem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Last Gem
- Legal name
- Das Letzte Kleinod GbR
- Website
- https://das-letzte-kleinod.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Das Letzte Kleinod (The Last Gem) is a German documentary theater ensemble that operates from a 130-meter, ten-car railway train called the Ozeanblaue Zug, touring site-specific performances at 30+ stations annually across Germany and the Netherlands, and serving general audiences, youth, and commissioned public-sector clients through ticket sales and cultural grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Last Gem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts / Documentary Theater
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)
Keywords
Where The Last Gem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schiffdorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Last Gem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from theater performance tickets sold to audiences at various tour locations across Germany and Europe.
- Government and Foundation Funding: Cultural funding and project grants from German federal and state governments, cultural foundations, and EU programs supporting socioculture and documentary theater.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Theater Tickets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
The Last Gem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Das Letzte Kleinod is a German documentary theater ensemble that creates and tours site-specific performances about places and their local histories, delivered primarily from the Ozeanblaue Zug, a 130-meter mobile theater train authorized to operate on public railways. Productions are performed at railway stations, industrial buildings, harbors, and other unusual venues across Germany, the Netherlands, and select international locations.
Product overview
Das Letzte Kleinod (The Last Treasure) is a German railway theater ensemble operating from the Ozeanblaue Zug (Ocean Blue Train) - a 130-meter-long train with ten railway cars that serves as a mobile theater venue. The company develops documentary theater performances about places and their stories, primarily based on oral history. Their portfolio includes theater productions performed on trains, at railway stations, in industrial buildings, on islands, and other unusual locations. Key productions include HÜTTENWERK (about GDR steel industry), SIELHÄFEN (about crab fisheries), HOTEL LUNIK (about GDR era), WILHELM*INA (about Emperor Wilhelm II), GESALZENE WASSERMELONEN (about Russian-Germans), and HOMELAND AND HELL (about Afghanistan). The company also runs Junges Kleinod, a children and youth theater program with international projects and refugee collaborations. The ensemble operates from the historic railway station of Geestenseth and tours throughout Germany and internationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Der Ozeanblaue Zug (The Oceanblue Train): The 130-meter train consisting of ten railway cars that serves as the company's mobile theater venue, recently renovated and licensed to operate on public rail networks.
- Junges Kleinod
Products and services
- Ozeanblaue Zug (Ocean Blue Train) Mobile Theater A 130-meter-long, ten-car railway theater authorized to operate on Germany's public rail network, serving as a mobile performance, production, and accommodation venue for the ensemble.
- SIELHÄFEN Documentary theater production about crab fisheries in the coastal villages of Wremen, Dorum-Neufeld, and Spieka-Neufeld.
- HÜTTENWERK Railway theater production about the steel industry in the GDR, focusing on the role of women workers in Eisenhüttenstadt.
- HOTEL LUNIK Theater production in Eisenhüttenstadt about the GDR era and its history.
- JACQUELINE Theater production listed in the current Das Letzte Kleinod program.
- WASSERWEGE Theater production listed in the current Das Letzte Kleinod program.
- FAREWELL Columbusbahnhof Production series created as a farewell to the Columbusbahnhof Bremerhaven before its demolition in 2023, commissioned by Bremenports.
- HEIMAT&FREMDE Theater production about the Marschendichter Hermann Allmers, performed at his former residence in Rechtenfleth.
- KOHLEZUG Documentary theater production about coal mining, traveling through brown coal regions in Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt.
- PASSENGER PROCESSING Theater production at Columbusbahnhof Bremerhaven about transatlantic travel, drawing on stories from people connected to the building.
- KOMME BALD! Documentary theater about German prisoners of war returning from Soviet camps after WWII.
- CARBON Theater production about open-pit mining, devastation, and climate change as part of the GLOBAL VILLAGE LABS program.
- INTEX Industrial theater production about the history of the INTEX textile building in Weißenfels.
- SPITZKEHRE Theater train journey through the history of the Thuringia landscape, performed on one of Germany's steepest railway lines.
- SOUVENIR 1870 Coproduction about Theodor Fontane's experiences during the Franco-Prussian War, based on his writings, with Staatstheater Cottbus, Hans-Otto-Theater Potsdam, Theater der Altmark Stendal, and Kleist Forum Frankfurt (Oder).
- HOMELAND AND HELL Documentary theater about everyday life in Afghanistan, developed with German soldiers and Afghan refugees sharing their personal experiences.
- WILHELM*INA Theater about Emperor Wilhelm II's escape to the Netherlands after WWI and Empress Hermine's fate.
- GESALZENE WASSERMELONEN Documentary theater about the history of Russian-Germans, their deportation to Kazakhstan, and life in exile.
- SANDBANK Theater production on the North Sea island of Spiekeroog.
- Der Brief Theater and music project based on a farewell letter from 1925, exploring love and freedom across different eras.
- Junges Kleinod Youth Theater Program Children and youth theater division of the ensemble, including international projects and refugee theater collaborations.
- NASSES LAND Youth Project Youth project bringing together young people with and without migration backgrounds to share stories through theater, using the Ozeanblaue Zug as a symbol of mobility.
Companies that use The Last Gem
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Last Gem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Last Gem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- evb (Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser GmbH)coreEvb supports Das Letzte Kleinod's youth project NASSES LAND, using the theater train as a symbol of mobility to promote exchange among youth with and without migration backgrounds in the region.
- Hermann-Allmers-GesellschaftcoreCollaboration on the HEIMAT&FREMDE theater project about the marsh poet Hermann Allmers, held at the Allmers-Haus in Rechtenfleth.
- Staatstheater CottbuscoreCoproduction partner for SOUVERNIR 1870, a theater piece about Theodor Fontane's experiences during the Franco-Prussian War.
- Hans-Otto-Theater PotsdamcoreCoproduction partner for SOUVERNIR 1870 about Theodor Fontane.
- Theater der Altmark StendalcoreCoproduction partner for SOUVERNIR 1870.
- Kleist Forum Frankfurt (Oder)coreCoproduction partner for SOUVERNIR 1870.
- Stadttheater BremerhavenminorCollaboration on Die Filchner-Barriere production about the Antarctic expedition.
- Goethe-Institut AlexandriaminorHosted documentary theater workshop in Egypt about refugees, where participants developed the production OVERSEAS.
- PeerJonG / GroningenminorCross-border collaboration on youth theater project Kartoffelburen with young people from Germany and the Netherlands.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Last Gem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rimini Protokoll: Berlin-based collective widely regarded as the leading German documentary theater ensemble. Rimini Protokoll uses real-life testimonies and site-specific contexts to create theatrical work, mirroring Das Letzte Kleinod's documentary-theater methodology and German mid-size touring model.
- She She Pop: Berlin-based post-dramatic collective known for documentary and autobiographical performance work. Operates as a small ensemble with comparable funding profile and German touring footprint, making it a close peer in scale and conceptual approach.
- Kneehigh Theatre: UK-based touring company famous for site-specific, large-scale outdoor and location-based storytelling. Comparable in the use of non-traditional venues and a strong touring identity built around place-based narratives.
- Gob Squad: Berlin/Nottingham-based performance collective working at the intersection of theater, video, and site-specific installation. Closely comparable in ensemble size, German cultural-funding dependency, and international touring practice.
- Forced Entertainment: Long-running Sheffield-based experimental theater company renowned for touring devised documentary and durational work across Europe. Comparable small ensemble touring model with similar public-arts funding exposure.
Broad incumbents
- Deutsches Theater Berlin: Major German-language repertory theater that has historically engaged with documentary and contemporary social themes. Comparable in German theater ecosystem but with substantially larger scale and fixed-venue operations.
- Volksbühne Berlin: Iconic Berlin theater with a history of experimental, site-specific, and politically engaged programming. Comparable conceptually in pushing theatrical boundaries, but as a much larger institution with a fixed venue.
- Schaubühne Berlin: One of Germany's leading repertory theaters with a substantial international profile. Comparable in Berlin/German theater landscape and coproduction partner potential, but operates a fixed venue and much larger institutional scale.
Others
- ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People): International network connecting youth theater companies and projects, including via programs like Junges Kleinod. Relevant as a funding and partnership channel for the company's youth theater division rather than a direct competitor.
Regional players
- Toneelgroep Amsterdam (ITSA): Leading Dutch touring theater company with strong international touring footprint and similar blend of text-based and devised documentary work. Comparable scale and touring model, but focused primarily on the Netherlands/Benelux region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Last Gem social profiles
Digital presenceThe Last Gem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Last Gem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Last Gem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Last Gem M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Last Gem
What does The Last Gem do?
Das Letzte Kleinod is a German documentary theater ensemble that creates and tours site-specific performances about places and their local histories, delivered primarily from the Ozeanblaue Zug, a 130-meter mobile theater train authorized to operate on public railways. Productions are performed at railway stations, industrial buildings, harbors, and other unusual venues across Germany, the Netherlands, and select international locations.
Is The Last Gem a public or private company?
The Last Gem is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Last Gem founded?
The Last Gem was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Last Gem based?
The Last Gem is headquartered in Schiffdorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does The Last Gem make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are government and Foundation Funding.
Who are The Last Gem's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rimini Protokoll, She She Pop, Kneehigh Theatre, Gob Squad and Forced Entertainment. Broad incumbents are Deutsches Theater Berlin, Volksbühne Berlin and Schaubühne Berlin. ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People) is listed as an others. Toneelgroep Amsterdam (ITSA) is listed as a regional player.
Does The Last Gem have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Last Gem.
What industry is The Last Gem in?
The Last Gem's product category is Performing Arts / Documentary Theater. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAC, Touring Theatre Productions. Its NAICS code is 71111.