Berlin’s Theater Ost faces eviction as landlord pushes redevelopment plans
Theater Ost, a cultural venue in Berlin’s former East German television studios, is facing eviction after its landlord, Stefan Klinkenberg, terminated the lease. Klinkenberg plans to build a new structure behind the historic site and has accused the theatre’s leadership of failing to present a sustainable financial plan. The dispute now heads to court, with a hearing set for December 13.
The conflict centres on rising costs, renovation needs, and Klinkenberg’s development plans. He insists a new building—potentially a homeless shelter—is essential for the site’s financial survival. Theater Ost director Kathrin Schülein, however, demands the city intervene by revoking Klinkenberg’s hereditary lease and funding repairs.
The theatre, housed in the former studio of the GDR’s Aktuelle Kamera news programme, holds deep historical significance. Many of its volunteers once worked there, and its programme reflects East German heritage. Schülein envisions the space as a future media hub for Berliner Zeitung and a platform for stories about the GDR and post-reunification eastern Germany.
Klinkenberg has dismissed Schülein’s proposals as unworkable. He claims her plans lack concrete financial backing and has called for renewed negotiations. The architect behind Theater Ost’s preservation—a Cologne native—has pledged to maintain the site despite Western stereotypes about profit-driven investors.
The court’s December 13 decision will determine whether Theater Ost can remain in its long-standing home. If evicted, the venue’s future as a cultural and historical space hangs in the balance. The outcome may also shape how Berlin balances heritage preservation with modern development pressures.
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