Volkstheater Bautzen has to take a break due to water damage

Crisis management is currently taking over at the Deutsch-Sorbisches Volkstheater in Bautzen. After the sprinkler system suddenly started up during maintenance work on Wednesday and poured around 6,000 liters of extinguishing water over the stage, the orchestra pit and other rooms, the damage is now being assessed.

"We have now canceled all performances until Tuesday. Then the expert will come and then we will know how we can continue," said press spokeswoman Gabriele Suschke on request. The first spotlights are already being repaired. They are now looking at where they can procure something. The electronics of the security system are also damaged. "We can't play at the moment for various reasons."

Drying instead of playing theater

According to Suschke, there is still no precise overview of the damage. "We are currently sifting and drying to see what can still be used." At the moment, the stage floor is making waves. The experts need to clarify whether it can be repaired or needs to be replaced. "That will certainly take some time." Nevertheless, attempts will be made to continue with the first performances next week with limited play operations.

Theatre in Bautzen affected once before in 2009

According to the spokesperson, there was a similar case in Bautzen in 2009. At that time, however, the sprinkler system had triggered without the fire system being maintained. "The stage was also under water back then. We were just quicker this time." The system was switched off again after just three minutes. "We knew what we had to do. All our colleagues mopped up immediately, including the actors. The fire department pumped out the cellar."

Water damage caused by sprinkler systems in theaters is not an isolated incident. In 2016, the small house of the Staatsschauspiel in Dresden was hit. Back then, around 40,000 liters of water poured over the stage. At the time, the staff compared it to "subtropical rain". "You could hardly see your hands in front of your eyes", they said.

In autumn 2022, the Gerhart Hauptmann Theater in Görlitz was hit. After a fault in the fire alarm system, the deluge system on the large stage of the historic theater building also came on. Within a few minutes, the entire stage area was flooded with around 28,000 liters of water, causing millions of euros worth of damage.