GERMANY:One of Berlin's oldest theatres has warned its new landlord, Ireland's Ballymore Properties, not to try and close the house, writes Derek Scallyin Berlin.
The Theatre am Kurfürstendamm, which opened its doors 80 years ago under the directorship of impresario Max Reinhardt, has announced plans for its 2009-2010 season even though its lease has been terminated.
The Irish developer last October bought the Kudamm Karree, a shopping and office complex that incorporates the theatre as well as its sister house, the Komödie theatre, for €155 million.
The leases for the two theatres were cancelled last year and will expire at the end of this month.
Martin Woelffer, director of the two houses, said: "We've heard nothing from Ballymore but if anyone tried to touch these theatres, people would go on the rampage. We aren't going to move out - we'll wait for an eviction notice if necessary.
"We've already signed contracts for the 2009-2010 and I'm optimistic that we can reach an agreement. After all, our theatres are the only thing in this whole complex that actually work."
The 1920s theatres were incorporated into the larger Karree complex in the 1970s. The 93,000sq m mixed-use development on Berlin's leading shopping street includes a shopping centre, car park and high-rise office block.
However, the Karree complex has proven to be problematic and stands largely empty. It has been remodelled several times and changed hands twice in the last year. Ballymore said yesterday it had "no plans developed as yet for the property".