As public building projects, theaters are venues that expose ideological conflicts, social issues, and the way society chooses to present itself. This volume is the first to examine twentieth-century theater design as a primary source, and asks how our knowledge about theater construction and stage equipment is produced, disseminated, and shaped. The authors approach the topic with the aid of various objects and concepts, ranging from architectural training and cultural heritage to architecture photography. The volume also presents archival material on renowned theatersincluding the Schauspielhaus Bochum, the Burgtheater in Vienna, and the recently demolished Komödie am Kurfürstendamm in Berlin from the unique collection of the Museum of Architecture at TU Berlin.

• Considers twentieth-century theater design as a source of knowledge and information
• Offers an interdisciplinary approach to theater construction and stage technology
• The first volume to collate archival material from the worlds most comprehensive collection on theater architecture at the Museum of Architecture at TU Berlin