In the Großer Dreesch district of Schwerin, a prefabricated concrete building from 1975 stands proudly – overlooking Lake Fauler See – with a distinctive semi-circular glass extension. Until 2014, it housed the Schweriner Volkszeitung newspaper. Hard to miss: the large “M” on the roof, indicating that the Mecklenburg State Theatre also has a performance venue here.

The former printing hall of the Schweriner Volkszeitung has been the new performance venue of the Mecklenburg State Theatre since October 2022, replacing the venue at the E-Werk, which had to close due to construction work. The transformation from a multi-purpose hall to a theatre venue took just a few months, from May to the opening in October. The result is the M*Halle.

Spread across three floors with around 2,000 square meters of the former industrial hall, there are – in addition to the stage on the first floor with around 150 seats – a lounge with a bar, a casino for workshops, a studio stage in the basement, and a backstage area with dressing rooms for artists, rooms for makeup, props, and technical equipment, as well as lounge areas and offices.

The charm of the industrial hall was preserved during the renovation. Following the red carpet inside, there is no doubt you’ve entered a theatre! A huge chandelier hovers above red sofas, inviting visitors to relax and chat before the performance or during the intermission.

At the M*Halle, visitors can experience a wide variety of performances from all six artistic disciplines of the Mecklenburg State Theatre every year: drama, music theatre, ballet, children’s and youth theatre, concerts by the Mecklenburg State Orchestra Schwerin, as well as the Low German program of the Fritz Reuter Stage.