Past Productions

2026 Season

  • Group of people expressing various emotions against a blue background with bubbles.

    Asking Strangers the Meaning of Life

    by William Missouri Downs

    What would you say if a stranger asked you, “What’s the meaning of life?” William Missouri Downs’ warm, witty play gathers a quirky cast of ordinary people whose honest, surprising answers reveal the small miracles and private losses that shape us all. Through short scenes and lively monologues, the piece moves between humor and tenderness—showing how a barista, a retired teacher, a housewife, and a teen each carry their own philosophy, regrets, and hopes. The result is a mosaic of human truth: sometimes profound, often funny, always humane.

  • Illustration of a hand holding a fan with various vintage-style silhouettes of men and women in period clothing, set against a magenta background with floral patterns.

    The Importance of Being Earnest

    by Oscar Wilde


    Centered on two bachelors who invent fictitious personae to escape social obligations, the play unfolds into a delightful web of mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and epigrammatic one‑liners. Wilde’s brilliant dialogue exposes the absurdities of duty, marriage, and respectability while celebrating individuality and the freedom to be oneself.


2025 Season

  • Four people dressed in costumes, posing closely together in front of a plain white wall.

    Tartuffe

    By Molière

    A timeless comedy that exposes the folly of blind faith and hypocrisy. The story follows Orgon, a wealthy man who falls under the spell of Tartuffe, a cunning impostor posing as a pious and virtuous guest. As Tartuffe schemes to seize Orgon’s fortune and manipulate his household, the family must unite to reveal the truth before it’s too late. ate the power of reason and honesty.

  • Poster for a play  directed by Dennis Massmann, scheduled from January 17 to January 25 at the Theater im Romanischen Keller at 8 pm. Features childlike drawings of three girls and a smiley face, with textual elements and a QR code for tickets.

    The Pillowman

    By Martin McDonagh

    A dark, gripping drama that delves into the twisted mind of a writer whose disturbing stories mirror a series of chilling child murders. With McDonagh’s signature blend of dark humor and intense suspense, The Pillowman challenges audiences to confront the power—and consequences—of narrative. This provocative piece is a must-see for those who appreciate theater that pushes boundaries and provokes deep reflection.

  • A woman with dark hair and makeup, wearing a vintage cream-colored dress, pearl necklace, and earrings, is leaning against a textured brown wall with her eyes closed, and a hand is gently placed on her forehead, in a dimly lit room with a dark background.

    Carmilla

    By David MacDowell Blue

    A chilling and passionate exploration of love, identity, and darkness. Set in a haunting mansion, the story follows the mysterious Carmilla and her unsettling bond with the young Laura. Through atmospheric storytelling and rich character development, this adaptation weaves suspense and emotional intensity, capturing the timeless allure of vampire lore while celebrating queer themes with haunting elegance. A must-see for fans of classic horror with a modern twist.

2024 Season

  • A woman in a red dress has two children clinging to her. The child on the left has red hair and is covering part of their face with one hand, while the child on the right has blonde hair and is resting their head against her shoulder.

    Medea

    by Euripidies

    Translated by Diane J. Rayor

    Passion and betrayal spark a tragic story of love, revenge, and human limits. Betrayed by Jason, Medea faces harsh consequences. This intense play explores loyalty, vengeance, and justice, revealing deep emotions and the cost of betrayal.

  • Poster for the play "God of Carnage" featuring a pair of red boxing gloves hanging on a rope, with the title and event details in white text on a black background.

    God of Carnage

    by Yasmina Reza

    Translated by Christopher Hampton

    What begins as a polite conversation quickly unravels into chaos as suppressed frustrations and primal instincts surface, revealing the raw and often hilarious truths about human nature and social pretenses. This intense, character-driven drama brilliantly captures the complexities of adult relationships with biting wit and surprising emotional depth.

  • Poster for theater production of 'The Cherry Orchard' by Anton Chekhov, performed in English from November 22 to November 30 at the Roman Theater Cellar, with ticket prices from 10 to 13 euros.

    The Cherry Orchard

    by Anton Chekov

    Set on a Russian estate facing financial ruin, the story follows an aristocratic family grappling with the sale of their cherished cherry orchard. Through a blend of humor and melancholy, Chekhov reveals the clash between old traditions and new realities, making this timeless play a powerful reflection on nostalgia, progress, and the complexities of human nature.

2023 Season

  • Poster advertising 'Hot Shorts Short Play Evening' by Schauspielgruppe des Anglistischen Seminars e.V. at Heidelberg, featuring a black-and-white photo of three people in vintage bathing suits, with performances scheduled for December 8, 9, and 10 at 8:00 PM, tickets costing 10 or 8 euros for students.

    Hot Sho(r)ts Short Play Evening

    An evening of self-produced plays

    A thrilling mix of short self-written plays, blending laughter and suspense. Enjoy fresh tales performed by passionate amateurs in Heidelberg—where creativity and community unite on stage.

  • Poster for the play "Suddenly Last Summer" by Tennessee Williams, directed by Dennis Massmann, scheduled for April 20-23 and 25-27 at 8 pm at the Theater im Romanischen Keller. The poster features a dark background with a red rose and a red bird silhouette, with white text and a QR code.

    Suddenly Last Summer

    by Tennessee Williams

    Suddenly Last Summer, a one-act play by Tennessee Williams, exposes a dark family secret beneath polite society. Set in a Southern summer, a woman confronts a doctor to reveal her cousin’s mysterious death. Themes of madness, repression, and secrets challenge the price of truth. A tense, emotional drama that captivates and provokes.

2022 Season

  • Poster for the play "The Mistress of Wholesome" by Jacob Appel, featuring a black high heel shoe, a pearl necklace, a revolver, a container of ice cream with a label "Crimissimo," and a raw heart, all arranged on a red velvet background.

    The Mistress of Wholesome

    by Jacob Appel

    Set against a backdrop of small-town intrigue, the play delves into themes of morality, deception, and the complexities of human desire. With its clever dialogue and richly drawn characters, Mistress of Wholesome challenges audiences to question what it truly means to be “wholesome” in a world full of secrets and contradictions.

2021 Season

  • Black and white photo of three people in vintage swimwear on a boat or outdoor setting, with a concert event poster overlay about a performance called 'Hot Shorts: Fighting Lockdown Blues'.

    Hot ShortsFighting Lockdown Blues

    At last, after a theatre-less year, we performed six new plays written by members of the Schauspielgruppe in the English Department garden.

2020 Season

  • Event poster for a play titled 'Confusions' by Alan Ayckbourn, scheduled from January 24 to February 1, 2020, with performances starting at 8 pm, held at the Romanisches Keller in Heidelberg. The poster features cartoon-style illustrations of a park bench, a bear, a waiter with wine glasses, a key, and a bunting banner.

    Confusions

    by Alan Ayckbourn

    A sparkling ensemble comedy of tangled lives, sharp misunderstandings, and perfect comic timing. Confusions strings together five interlocking short plays set in the same London flat and pub, following a cast of charmingly eccentric characters whose attempts at love, escape, and self-improvement collide in increasingly hilarious and poignant ways. With Ayckbourn’s trademark wit and pinpoint observation of human foibles, Confusions delivers quick-fire dialogue, physical comedy, and moments of surprising tenderness. Ideal for lovers of classic British farce and warm, character-driven humor — expect laughs, gentle heartbreak, and a cast of unforgettable, perfectly mismatched souls.

  • Illustration of six diverse people wearing face masks, with one woman using a smartphone, promoting a series of audio plays about relationships by the Schauspielgruppe des Anglistischen Seminars e.V.

    It Takes Two

    Seven short audio plays about relationships.

     "We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it.“ (John Lennon)

    One of the most basic human needs: the need for connection. One of the most difficult things to achieve and maintain: connection.

    Due to the COVID lock downs, this was produced as an audio online performance.

  • Event poster for Jacques Futrelle's play titled 'The Problem of Cell 13', adapted for radio by Neville Teller. Dates and times of performances are listed. The background features a dark, brick-walled prison cell with a small barred window letting in light. The poster is from the Schauspielgruppe des Anglistischen Seminars e.V.

    The Prisoner of Cell 13

    by Jacques Futrelle
    Adapted by Neville Teller

    A brief mystery by Jacques Futrelle — follows a brilliant, unassuming mastermind who wagers he can free a man from the locked Cell 13 using only intellect and clever contraptions. Tension builds with each device and twist as the escape nears success—and danger.

    A taut, fast-moving tale of puzzle-solving and suspense, perfect for fans of classic detective fiction and for stage: compact, dramatic, and ripe for inventive staging.

    Due to the COVID lock downs, the was produced as an audio online performance

  • Three postcards or invitations on a wooden surface, one pink, one white, and one beige with red and blue border, promoting performances and meetings by A.R. Gurney and a theater group.

    Love Letters

    by A.R. Gurney

    A tender, bittersweet exploration of friendship, memory, and the quiet ache of what might have been. Told entirely through the exchanged letters of Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Margaret “Maggie” Anderson over five decades, Love Letters traces the shifting contours of two lives — their hopes, failures, joys, and the small, unspoken devastations that shape them. With clarity, wit, and a deep compassion for its characters, Gurney’s play reveals how intimacy can endure across time and distance even when circumstances and courage fall short.

    Due to the COVID lock downs, this was produced as an audio online performance

2019 Season

  • Poster for a play titled "The Father" by Florian Zeller, directed by Christopher Hamton, featuring a black and white photo of a man's face with a butterfly on his forehead and autumn leaves surrounding him, with event details in German.

    The Father

    by Florian Zeller

    A sharp, heartbreaking portrait of memory and identity, The Father by Florian Zeller follows an elderly man determined to live independently as the world around him shifts and slips away. Told through his fractured, sometimes contradictory perspective, the play immerses the audience in the disorienting experience of dementia—where rooms, relationships, and time rearrange without warning. Zeller’s spare yet powerful writing blends dark humor with moments of unbearable tenderness, revealing how love and loss intersect when a life’s certainties unravel.

  • Poster for a theatrical performance titled 'Alarms and Excursions' by Michael Frayn, presented by the Schauspielgruppe des Anglistischen Seminars e.V. in Heidelberg on March 16-23, performed in English. The poster features photos of actors in various scenes, connected by lines with icons representing activities like talking on the phone and watching TV.

    Alarms and Excursions

    by Michael Frayn

    A sharp, witty collection of short plays that skewers modern family life, domestic mishaps, and the absurdities of social convention. Frayn’s lightning‑fast dialogue and cleverly constructed situations expose the comic chaos lurking beneath polite facades: misdelivered messages, bungled responsibilities, and the small emergencies that escalate into farce. Ranging from gentle satire to biting irony, these pieces showcase Frayn’s gift for timing and for finding the universal in the petty crises of everyday life. Perfect for audiences who love smart, character-driven comedy with a distinctly British sensibility—comic, humane, and endlessly surprising.

  • A black poster advertising the UNESCO Play Festival Dunedin, held in September 2019 in Dunedin, New Zealand. The poster features a white sketch of a box with the words "The Getaway" and "Paul Liedvogel" written on it, along with logos of UNESCO, Heidelberg, the City of Heidelberg, and other organizations.

    The Getaway

    by Paul Liedvogel

    In the year 2004, dementia sufferer William Malone is on the verge of losing his mind. As reality recedes, his past comes flooding back. In an attempt to save a suppressed memory, he records himself telling the story of a haunting event. 41 years ago, when William was an advisor at a summer camp, a 14-year-old boy got lost, never to be found again. Will’s manifesto is full of lies, dead ends, artificial memories, and apologies for something he can’t quite put his finger on.

2018 Season

  • Poster for the play "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose. Features a red silhouette of a gavel and a red silhouette of a man in a suit. The background resembles a concrete wall. Shows the performance dates, April 28-29, at 7:30 pm in a Romanesque Keller theater, with ticket prices of 8 and 6 euros. Contains contact information for reservations and logos of theater organizations.

    12 Angry Men

    by Reginald Rose

    Twelve jurors, one verdict, and a single room where truth and prejudice collide. Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men is a taut, character-driven drama about a murder trial’s jury deliberations. What begins as a near-unanimous vote for guilt slowly unravels as Juror Eight raises doubts, forcing each man to confront evidence, personal bias, and moral responsibility. With razor-sharp dialogue and a relentless focus on character, the play examines justice, civic duty, and the fragile line between certainty and reasonable doubt. Tense, humane, and unflinching, Twelve Angry Men remains a powerful portrait of democracy in action and the courage it takes to stand alone for the truth.

2017 Season

  • The image is a promotional poster for a theater production titled "The Philadelphia Story" by Philip Barry. The poster features a top row of black and white portrait photos of various characters, and a bottom section with a large black-and-white group photo of five people, one woman lying across three men. The actors are dressed in vintage clothing, with some in formal suits and one woman in a dress. The poster includes show dates, times, ticket prices, and reservation contact information.

    The Philadelphia Story

    by Philip Barry

    A sparkling comedy of manners, The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry follows Tracy Lord, a witty and wealthy socialite whose glamorous wedding plans are thrown into delightful disarray when her ex-husband and a tabloid reporter arrive uninvited. As secrets, old loves, and social expectations collide, Tracy must confront who she really is—and who she wants to be. Witty, tender, and acutely observant about class and marriage, Barry’s play crackles with sharp dialogue, memorable characters, and a warm heart beneath its glittering surface. Perfect for lovers of romantic comedy and sharp satire alike.

  • Poster for a theatrical play titled "Arsenic and Old Lace" by Joseph Kesselring, featuring a group photo of actors in costume, promoting performances at a theater in Heidelberg, Germany, with dates ranging from June 2 to June 10, 2017, and ticket prices.

    Arsenic and Old Lace

    by Joseph Kesselring

    A deliciously dark comedy that mixes warmth with wickedness. In a cozy Brooklyn brownstone, sweet elderly aunts Abby and Martha Brewster charm visitors with homemade elderberry wine — and a penchant for “mercy” killings of lonely old men. When their nephew Mortimer discovers the macabre truth, chaos erupts: an eccentric cast of relatives, a lovable drunken brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and a dangerously handsome criminal brother with murder on his mind all collide in farcical, riotous fashion. Fast-paced, full of absurd surprises, and scathingly funny, Arsenic and Old Lace is a timeless satire about family, sanity, and the thin line between kindness and criminality. Perfect for audiences who relish laughter tinged with the deliciously morbid.

  • Poster for a comedy show titled 'Black Comedy' by Peter Shaffer, featuring four actors with colorful lighting effects.

    Black Comedy

    by Peter Schaffer

    A blackout never looked so bright. Peter Shaffer’s Black Comedy is a razor-sharp farce about appearances, truth, and the chaos that happens when night falls—and the lights go out. Set in a London sculptor’s cluttered studio on the eve of a lavish dinner party, the play kicks off when a faulty fuse plunges the apartment into total darkness. In the pitch-black mayhem that follows, identities are mistaken, secrets tumble out, and decorum dissolves into delicious bedlam..

    Fast, witty, and full of physical comedy, Black Comedy is a dazzlingly entertaining evening that keeps the audience laughing as truth and farce collide. Perfect for lovers of clever stagecraft and high-energy comedy.

  • Poster for a theatrical play titled 'The Project' by Jeff Silence, presented by the Schauspielgruppe des Anglistischen Seminars e.V., featuring an illustration of a table with a burning stove, smoke, a bottle, and a pile of popcorn.

    The Project

    by Jeff Silence

    Seven people stumble through the business of living — first dates derailed by criminal records, marriages held together by baseball statistics and bad timing, friendships built on bad judgment and mutual catastrophe — while a whiskey-drinking, increasingly unreliable narrator tries and mostly fails to keep them in line. The characters rebel. The projector breaks. Nobody stays in their lane.

    Part absurdist comedy, part meditation on what it means to make something — a relationship, a piece of writing, a life that doesn't fall apart at the first house party — The Project is a play that knows it's a play, and isn't sure that's a problem.

2016 Season

  • A promotional poster for a theatrical event titled "Seven Interviews" by Mark Dunn. It features black and white photos of six people, with the event taking place in Heidelberg on March 5-12, 2016, and in Amsterdam on March 19, 2016. The poster has a green and magenta geometric design with text details about the shows, including start time, ticket price, and reservation contact information.

    Seven Interviews

    by Mark Dunn

    Seven Interviews is a razor-sharp ensemble comedy that peels back the polished façades of ambition, relationships, and identity. Through seven brief, brilliantly crafted interviews, Mark Dunn takes us on a fast-moving tour of characters trying — and failing — to present a tidy version of themselves. Each scene is a complete, compact revelation: witty, awkward, and surprisingly tender. The play’s clipped dialogue and brisk pacing reveal how little we know about one another, even as we try to control the story we tell.

  • Poster for a theatrical performance of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar celebrating 400 years, featuring four actors with serious expressions, with event details at the bottom.

    Julius Caesar

    by William Shakespeare

    Betrayal, ambition, and the dangerous art of persuasion collide in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Set in ancient Rome at the brink of civil war, the play follows the fallout from Caesar’s rise to power and the conspirators—led by Brutus and Cassius—who decide his death is necessary for the republic. Themes of honor versus expedience, public duty versus private loyalty, and the power of rhetoric are explored through tense plotting, moral uncertainty, and some of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches, including Marc Antony’s masterful funeral oration.

  • Poster for a theatrical performance of "The Tempest" with opening date June 3 and time 8 PM, hosted at the Romanischer Keller in Heidelberg, featuring logos of the Heidelberg theater group and celebration of 400 years of Shakespeare.

    The Tempest

    by William Shakespeare

    A storm. An island. Magic and mischief.

    The Tempest follows Prospero, the displaced Duke of Milan, who conjures a violent tempest to shipwreck his usurping brother and other nobles on the enchanted island where he has lived in exile with his daughter, Miranda. With the help of the airy spirit Ariel and the enslaved, earthy Caliban, Prospero engineers encounters that force reckonings of power, betrayal, forgiveness, and the limits of revenge. Love blooms between Miranda and the shipwrecked Ferdinand, while courtly plotting, comic buffoonery, and supernatural spectacle collide in a play that moves from furious control to a poignant surrender of magic.

  • Promotion for a theatrical adaptation of 'A.D.A.M. The Modern Frankenstein' by Lewis Wood, featuring photos of two young men with serious expressions, event dates, and reservation email at Heidelberg's Romanischen Keller theater.

    A.D.A.M.

    by Lewis Wood

    Victor Stone has to prove himself. After crashing the stock market, the computer sciences student sets out to accomplish what has never been attempted before: the creation of artificial intelligence. Suffering of OCD and depression, Victor has to rely on his friends Henry and Elizabeth. But what starts out as a challenge to himself could potentially destroy more than just his work.

  • Poster advertising the International UNESCO Creative Cities Short Play Festival 2016, organized by Schauspielgruppe des, featuring 23 new plays from Dublin, Dunedin, Heidelberg, Iowa City, and Norwich. The festival opens on July 2nd at 10:30 am, with additional shows on July 3rd at 8:00 pm and July 9th at 4:00 pm, at the Theater im Romanischen Keller, Seminarstr. 3. Ticket prices are 7 euros for one group, 10 euros for two groups, and 18 euros for all four groups. The poster includes a black-and-white photo of three people in vintage-style clothing, standing and conversing in what appears to be a cafe or outdoor seating area.

    Hot Shorts - UNESCO Creative Cities'

    With guests from the Unesco Cities of Literatre Norwich, Dublin, Iowa and Dunedin (NZ) 

    Supported by the City of Heidelberg

2015 Season

  • A promotional poster for a theatrical production titled 'Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead' by Bert V. Royal. The poster features a silhouette of a teenage boy with a yellow shirt, standing outdoors with a blue sky, small clouds, and greenery. The title is in large red letters inside a white cloud with blue rain falling from it. A pink halo and a pink lampshade are above the title. The event details include dates, times, ticket prices, venue, and reservation information, with additional logos of theater groups and sponsors.

    Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead

    by Burt V. Royal

    After the death of his beloved dog, CB retreats into grief and sarcasm, only to find himself tangled in the difficult, dizzying mess of high school life: shifting friendships, first crushes, and the cruel rituals that define teenage identity. In this sharp, darkly comic reimagining of the Peanuts gang as disaffected adolescents, CB tries to make sense of sex, religion, bullying, and loss while confronting the hypocrisy and loneliness that lurk behind suburban smiles.

  • Poster for William Shakespeare's play 'Richard III' featuring stylized illustrations of deer's skulls with flowers. The show runs June 19-23 and 25-27 at 8 PM at the Theater im Romanischen Keller. Tickets are 8-6 euro, reservation email is tickets.richard@gmail.com. Contains a QR code warning of explicit violence and viewer discretion.

    Richard III

    by William Shakespeare

    A gripping portrait of ambition, manipulation, and the corrosive cost of power, Richard III follows the ruthless rise of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as he schemes, lies, and murders his way to the English throne. Charismatic and chilling, Richard breaks the fourth wall to draw the audience into his cold, calculating mind—confessing sins, mockingly courting sympathy, and reveling in his own cunning. As alliances shift and bodies pile up, the play asks how far one man will go to seize control and what remains of honor, family, and country in the wake of his ascent.

  • Poster for a theatrical performance of H.C. Andersen's Tales, featuring a girl with braided hair holding a lit match. The poster includes details about the show dates, location in Heidelberg, director Thorsten Schulze, and musical director Caitlyn Bowman.

    H.C. Andersen - Two Tales in Song and Motion

    In cooperation with the Anglistenchor

    Aufgeführt werden die mit dem Pulitzer-Preis gekrönte „Little Match Girl Passion“ von David Lang sowie „Nightingale“ von Ugis Praulins — zwei Stücke, die wie die ihnen zugrunde liegenden Märchen mit ganz unterschiedlichem Charakter aufwarten und bestechen — gerade in der besonderen Akustik der Peterskirche.

  • A promotional poster for a play titled 'How It Was' by Laurence Williams, featuring two people sitting on a green couch. The woman on the left appears thoughtful, with her arms crossed, while the man on the right has a stern expression, with arms crossed. There are blurry, ghost-like images of the same two people between them, suggesting themes of memory or reflection. The poster includes show dates, ticket prices, booking information, and theater location, with a bright yellow background and black text.

    How It Was

    by Laurence Williams

    The lives of five university kids and the bizarre ordeals that university brings as they take their first steps into adulthood are contrasted with an old couple at the tail end of theirs. A comedic drama about what it takes to grow up and when it's appropriate to embrace your inner child.

2014 Season

  • Poster for a theatrical play titled 'Another War Story' by Katrin Pfändler, featuring a black-and-white image of a young man in a police or military uniform with a serious expression, and a red banner with the quote 'Talk as my friend.' The event takes place in Heidelberg in January 2014, with multiple dates, at 7 PM, costing 6 euros, and includes reservation contact information.

    Another War Story

    by Katrin Pfändler

    Imagine you meet someone. Imagine you find that someone attractive. Imagine you like his looks, her smile, his voice, the way she talks, the way he treats you. Imagine you get nervous when that someone is around. Imagine you want to be close to her, get to know more about him. Imagine that someone feels the same way about you. 

    Imagine you fall in love and the only thing that stands between you and that specific someone is six years of war. 

    And yet, it is 1945, the war is over. 

    How do you stop fighting in a soldier's mind? How do you forget about 'nation' if it is what you have killed for? How do you escape from the ones that have been shot and burned and raped? 

    It is 1945, but when is the war over?

  • Poster for a theatrical play titled 'Proof' by David Auburn, showing a young woman's face with overlay of mathematical formulas. The play dates, times, and location are listed, along with ticket information.

    Proof

    by David Auburn

    Proof is a gripping drama about genius, love, and the fragile line between brilliance and madness. When celebrated mathematician Robert Harrington dies, his brilliant but emotionally battered daughter Catherine is left to reckon with his legacy: a trove of unpublished notes, her own uncertain future, and the question of whether the brilliant proofs in those pages are her work or a symptom of the very madness that claimed her father.

  • A poster advertising a theatrical play titled "My First Time," written by Ken Davenport and others. The poster features four people, three women and one man, each with a laptop, set against a white background. The event details, including dates in April 2014, time at 7:30 pm, and location at the Romanischer Keller on Seminarstraße 3 in Heidelberg, are listed. It also provides websites for more information and ticket reservations.

    My First Time

    by Ken Davenport

    A charming, honest, and often hilarious exploration of first experiences—romantic, awkward, and unforgettable. My First Time weaves together a collection of true stories from celebrities and everyday people, revealing those small, messily human moments that shape who we become. With warmth, wit, and surprising tenderness, the play celebrates the universal awkwardness of beginnings: first kisses, first jobs, first heartbreaks, and the first time we learn something about ourselves.

  • Poster for a play called 'Campus Rose' by Amanda Emanuel Smith and Kirsten Hertel, presented by the Schauspielgruppe des Anglistischen Seminars e.V., scheduled for May 23-29, 2014, at Theater im Romantischen Keller in Heidelberg. The poster features a red graduation cap with a tassel and red roses.

    Campus Rose

    by Amanda Emanuel Smith & Kirsten Hertel

    Aren't we all human? Even those in the 'ivory tower' of higher education? What makes the PhD student Robyn so unhappy in her job as professor's assistant? Who keeps putting roses in Dr. Bopp's pigeonhole? And what is Prof. Manesser's secret? 

    Campus Rose takes a humorous and satirical look behind the scenes of the university environment with all its human strengths and frailties.

  • Promotional poster for the play "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde, presented by Schauspielgruppe des Anglistischen Seminars. The poster features a young man in a suit with a background of Big Ben in London. Show dates listed are June 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, and 28 at 8 PM at Romanischer Keller Heidelberg, with a box office opening at 7 PM. Ticket prices are 8 euros for regular and 6 euros for students.

    An Ideal Husband

    by Oscar Wilde

    Witty, wicked, and unexpectedly tender, Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband is a sparkling comedy of manners that peels back Victorian respectability to expose human weakness, hypocrisy, and the possibility of redemption. Set in London's fashionable drawing rooms, the play follows Sir Robert Chiltern, a respected politician whose career—and marriage to the elegant Lady Chiltern—are built on a seemingly irreproachable past. When the beautiful and scandalous Mrs. Cheveley appears with evidence of a long-buried secret, Sir Robert faces blackmail that threatens everything he values. As loyalties are tested and clever repartee flies, friends and foes maneuver in a duel of wit, revealing that idealism and honesty are more complicated than appearances suggest.

  • Poster announcing the comedy play "Flat Spin" by Alan Ayckbourn, performed in English. It features a man and woman in the center, with smaller photos of other cast members at the bottom. The event is scheduled for various dates in Heidelberg and Amsterdam, with ticket details and email reservation information.

    Flatspin

    by Alan Ayckbourn

    A razor-sharp, comic thriller that spins the ordinary into the absurd. Set almost entirely in a London flat, the play follows a young actress whose life takes a dizzying turn when a case of mistaken identity plunges her into a night of bungled impersonations, ill-conceived schemes, and mounting danger. Ayckbourn’s trademark blend of wit and nerve keeps the pace breathless: what begins as a charming romantic setup soon unravels into farce, black comedy, and a surprisingly perceptive look at loneliness, performance, and self-deception.

2013 Season

  • Close-up view of chocolate cupcakes with crumbs and a paper cupcake liner, near the cover text of a book titled "ENGAGED" by W.S. Gilbert, promoting performances in January on specific dates at a Romanesque cellar at 8 pm, with ticket reservation details.

    Engaged

    by W.S. Gilbert

    Centered on the lovestruck Belinda Treherne and the hapless Cheviot Hill, the play skewers Victorian marriage conventions with lightning-fast dialogue, topsy-turvy logic, and a parade of eccentric characters whose schemes only multiply misunderstandings.

  • Poster advertising the play "FURIES" by Ry Herman, performed in English, with show dates in Heidelberg from April 25th to 27th and May 1st to 4th, and in Amsterdam on May 18th and 19th, all shows at 8:00 PM. Ticket prices are 8 Euros or 6 Euros for students. The poster features shadowy, expressive actors performing a dramatic scene.

    Furies

    by Ry Herman

    INSPIRED BY “THE EUMENIDES”, BY AESCHYLUS

    Aura’s been a bad, bad girl. And now the past she wanted to forget is coming back to haunt her – ghosts and goddesses, monsters and madness, and most terrifying of all, the Furies. This world-premiere performance, inspired by “The Eumenides” by Aeschylus, combines dance and theater into an unforgettable show.

  • Advertisment for a theatrical play titled "The Man Who" by Peter Brooks and Marie-Helene Estienne, scheduled for May 24-31 and June 1 at 8 pm, and May 25 at 7 pm, at Romanischer Keller. The poster includes black and white graphics of a person with a hat, a magnifying glass, and a bottle. Reservations can be made via email.

    The Man Who

    by Peter Brooks

    The characters in “The Man Who“ see the world through different eyes. Some notice only half of their world. While some can see instinctively but not consciously. And to others, everything around them is a dream. In the play, a staff of doctors introduces a number of these unusual patients. But sometimes, doctors can also be peculiar.

  • A promotional flyer for a theatrical play titled "A Good Death" by Wannnie de Wijn. The flyer features a cast photo with six actors, some seated on a sofa and some standing behind it, dressed in dark clothing. The play is scheduled to open on June 14 at Heidelberg, Germany, with subsequent performances on June 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, and 22 at the same venue. The flyer includes details about the cast, venue, ticket prices, and reservation information.

    A Good Death

    by Wannie de Wijn

    A Good Death by Wannie de Wijn

    A a tender, unsparing exploration of love, loss, and the quiet dignity of dying. Wannie de Wijn’s intimate drama follows a family gathering around an ailing parent whose wish for control over the end of life forces each character to confront grief, guilt, and the limits of compassion.

  • Black and white photo of three actors in 1950s style costumes on stage. Two standing women and a seated man are holding drinks, engaged in conversation. The event is a short play evening titled "Hot Shorts" presented by the English Seminar Group, taking place on July 2, 3, 4, 5 at 8:00 pm. The poster has red curtains in the background and includes additional event details and contact information.

    Short Play Evening

    An evening of six short plays written by students of the English department.

  • Two men fighting in front of a brick wall, one with a cigarette in mouth, wearing a leather jacket, and the other with a leather jacket and white T-shirt, engaged in a physical altercation.

    Macbeth

    by William Shakespeare

    Driven by prophecy and spurred on by his calculating wife, Macbeth murders his way to the throne, only to find that each victory deepens his paranoia and moral decay. Bloodstained and haunted by visions, he becomes trapped in a cycle of violence that destroys both king and kingdom.

  • Poster advertising a theatrical play titled 'The Motherf**ker with the Hat' by Stephen Adly Guirgis, presented by the Schauspielgruppe des Anglistischen Seminars. It features a person in a black leather jacket holding a hat in front of their face, standing in a subway station. The play runs from November 28-30 and December 3-7 at 8:00 PM in Heidelberg, Germany.

    The Motherf**ker With The Hat

    by Stephen Adly-Guirgis

    Jackie, fresh out of rehab, returns to his girlfriend Veronica and finds a mysterious hat, jealousy erupts into a fevered battle of trust, pride, and self-deception. Surrounded by a cast of barbed, vividly drawn characters—friends, exes, and a pragmatic parole officer—Guirgis’s blistering dialogue exposes how loyalty and self-interest collide in the world of recovery and the streets.

2012 Season

  • Poster for a theatrical performance titled 'COLORED RED' with silhouettes of actors on stage, red curtains, and event details at the bottom.

    Colored

    by Tina Schöbel and Frank Bednarsky


    The colored mixture of scenes, whose contents are somehow familiar to us all, lives from the alteration of different stories and feelings as well as from spoken and danced parts. The play randomly chooses one story, focuses on it for one moment and leaves it a bit later to follow a new storyline. Creating a kaleidoscope of various stories the play tells us about romantic relationships, which are not connected directly but which are somehow different sides of one and the same tale.

  • Poster advertising a theater group's performance of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Features a large illustration of a human skull with event details, including dates, time, location, ticket prices, and contact email.

    Hamlet

    by William Shakespeare


    After the sudden death of his father and the hasty remarriage of his mother to his uncle, Prince Hamlet is driven to uncover whether murder lies beneath the façade. Wrestling with grief, madness (real or feigned), and the ethics of justice, Hamlet sets a chain of events into motion that destroys friend and foe alike.

  • Poster for a series of three one-act plays titled "Love Bites," performed in English from June 27 to July 30, featuring "Dead Cat," "You Know This Is F*cked Up, Right?" and "Vamp." The poster includes cartoon illustrations of two women, one with blonde hair and the other with red hair, sitting together, with the blonde-haired woman hugging the red-haired woman. The poster has a colorful, retro design with text in yellow, pink, red, and white on a background of blue, beige, and purple.

    Love Bites

    by Ry Herman

    In Dead Cat, a man, his ex-wife, and their various lovers try to hold a Viking funeral for a beloved pet. You Know This is F*cked Up, Right? follows a relationship that moves from a business transaction to friendship to obsession. And Vamp is a vinyl-clad supernatural girl-meets-girl romantic comedy about monsters, meteors, and imaginary roommates.

  • Poster for a play titled "As You Like It," featuring a multicolored silhouette of a deer made of flowers and leaves, with the playwright William Shakespeare and director Tina Hüther's names listed.

    As You Like It

    by William Shakespeare

    When Rosalind is banished from court, she takes refuge in the forest disguised as a young man, setting off a joyful chain of mistakes, confessions, and secret longings. Friendships are tested, passions are discovered, and identities are remade as the exiled court and country folk collide in a world where city rules don’t apply and it’s easier to speak the truth.

  • Event poster for a play titled "Rabbit Hole" by David Lindsay-Abaire, featuring a background image of a tunnel with a person running on the beach seen through the tunnel opening.

    Rabbit Hole

    by David Lindsay-Abaire


    Rabbit Hole follows Becca and Howie Corbett after the sudden death of their four-year-old son, Danny. The play captures the quiet, often messy reality of mourning: the awkward attempts at consolation, the small ruptures in a marriage, and the unexpected connections that offer a way forward.

2011 Season

  • Poster for a stage adaptation of the Hollywood movie 'Two Girls & a Guy' by the Drama Group of Heidelberg University, Germany. Features three actors' images behind torn paper effects. Details include venue at Theater de Cameleon, Amsterdam, date of January 6, 2012, at 8 pm, ticket price €7, and reservation email. Performed in English.

    Two Girls and a Guy

    by James Toback

    Two strangers, one apartment, and a truth that won't stay hidden. When Carla arrives to confront her boyfriend, Blake, she finds him alone with Lou, a charming, provocative stranger. What begins as accusation quickly spirals into psychological brinkmanship—seduction, confession, and verbal duels reveal shifting loyalties and buried vulnerabilities.

  • Poster for a theatrical performance titled 'Comic Potential' by Alan Ayckbourn, featuring a woman with long brown hair holding a small doll-like figure, with another doll in the background. The poster has an orange and red decorative border with string lights. It mentions dates from May 6 to 14, 8 pm at the Romanischer Keller, Ecke Kettengasse / Seminarstraße, with ticket prices of 8 and 6 Euro. Reservations can be made via email.

    Comic Potential

    by Alan Ayckbourn

    In the distant future, television is dominated by robot actors. But Jacie is different. Does she have actual feelings of love? A comedy about comedy and whether our abilities to make each other laugh is really what makes us human.

  • Black and white photo of three people in vintage swimwear at a Mediterranean or seaside location. Two women with styled hair and a man wearing an apron and holding a glass of drink. They are standing next to a bikini or swimsuit on display and a mirror. The photo is part of a promotional poster for a short play festival called Heidelberg's Hot Shorts.

    Hot Shorts - Short Play Festival

    Our first short play festival


    Twenty three original and adapted plays written and performed by students of the Anglistischen Seminar.

  • A poster for a theatrical production of the play "Closer" by Patrick Marber, presented by the Acting Group of English Seminars. The poster features silhouettes of four people against a black background, with blue accents. The event details indicate performances in November from the 11th to the 19th at 7:30 pm, with ticket prices of 8 and 16 euros. The venue is the Romanischer Keller, Seminarstrasse 3. Contact for reservations is closer_play@gmx.de. The website for more information is www.dramagroup.uni-hd.de.

    Closer

    by Patrick Marber

    Set in contemporary London, the play follows four damaged, fiercely honest characters whose relationships collide and recombine in a relentless search for connection.

2010 Season

  • Poster for 'Autobahn' by Neil LaBute, presented by the English Seminar group, January 2010, with dates and location details.

    Autobahn

    by Neil Labute

    he automobile is certainly one of the most confined spaces available and thus a place for arguments, shelter and startling couplings. Autobahn, Neil LaBute's collection of one-act plays set within the spatial limitations of the car, hence offers an interesting insight into relationships and their sometimes awry foundations. From a make-out session taking an unexpected turn to a kidnapping disguised as a road trip and a daughter’s anxious ride home after her release from rehab, be sure to be surprised. This montage of scenes reveals the force of words – both said and unsaid! Much like a good short story, worlds and characters in full are conjured up, letting you know enough about them that you have a good idea (often an unsettling one) of what happens to them once the play ends. An often funny, yet also twisted tableau, Autobahn celebrates theatre in a thrilling form.

  • Poster adverting a theatrical performance of Agatha Christie's play 'Witness for the Prosecution'. It features four actors in period costumes, with details about show dates on June 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, and 12 at 8 pm at the Romanischen Keller, Heidelberg. Ticket prices are 8 or 6 Euro. Contact and reservation email provided, along with a website link.

    Witness for the Prosecution

    by Agatha Christie


    Sir Wilfried Robats, a master barrister, takes Leonard Vole on as a client.

    Vole is accused of murdering Mrs. French, a rich older woman who had become enamored of him, going so far as to make him the main beneficiary of her will.

    Strong circumstantial evidence all points to Vole as the killer.

    When Sir Wilfrid speaks with Vole’s German wife, Romaine, he finds her rather cold and self-possessed, but she does provide an alibi.

    Therefore, he is greatly surprised when she is called as a witness for the prosecution…

    Will Sir Wilfrid succeed to prevent a death sentence for Leonard?

  • A promotional poster for a theatrical performance titled 'The Wild Party' by Joseph Moncure March, presented by the Shakespeare group of the English Seminar. The show dates are June 25, 26, 27, 29, 30 and July 2, 3 at 8 pm. The poster features five actors in vintage costumes, with some holding props like flowers and a black dress. The background has a gold pattern, and there is a note that the performance is in English, with admission costing €6 or €8.

    The Wild Party

    BY Josephr Moncure March


    America in the Thirties: an age of bootlegging, prostitution and corruption. A time when the answers to most questions could be found at the bottom of a bottle, relationships were bought and sold, and differences of opinion were usually settled in bloodshed. Queenie and Burrs, a starlet dancer and her lover, a disgruntled clown, decide to throw a party at their seedy apartment. As the evening progresses we get to know the various lowlifes in attendance. Romance, too, enters the scene, but when everyone has their own itch to scratch, even love has its consequences…

2009 Season

  • Poster for a theatrical production of Neil Simon's 'The Odd Couple' presented by the actor group of the English seminar, produced by a special arrangement, with Samuel French, Inc.

    The Good Doctor

    by Neil Simon

    This Broadway hit is a composite of Neil Simon and Anton Chekhov. In one sketch a fiesty old woman storms a bank and upbraids the manager for his gout and lack of money. In another, a father takes his son to a house where he will be initiated into the mysteries of sex, only to relent at the last moment and leave the boy more perplexed than ever. In another sketch, a crafty seducer goes to work on a wedded woman, only to realize that the woman has been in command from the first overture. Let us not forget the classic tale of a man who offers to drown himself for three rubles. The stories are droll, the portraits affectionate, the humor infectious and the fun unending.

  • Poster for a play called "The Merry Wives of Windsor" featuring a young man with a red shirt and red antlers, with handwritten notes in red saying "partially stolen from Wilbur". Performance dates and ticket information are listed at the bottom.

    The Merry Wives of Wilbur

    partially stolen from Shakespeare


    It’s a play about a play of Merry Wives of Windsor, except it’s about Wilbur, and the other actors. And the play. And the play behind the play.

  • Poster for a theatrical play titled 'Doubt' by John Patrick Shanley, featuring a large window with stained glass. Text includes the event dates, location, ticket information, and contact email.

    Doubt

    by John Patrick Stanley


    She wants to destroy his reputation, he touched William London's wrist.

    Sister Aloysius, the unrelenting principal of a catholic church school suspects the liberal parish priest, Father Flynn, of the unthinkable.

    She is convinced that there is more to his caring interest in Patrick Mueller, the first black child in her school, than he lets on. Flynn always seems to be such a nice teacher, but is he really?

    Sister Aloysius claims to know the truth, but does she really?

    Caught in between, the soft-spoken Sister James finds herself wrestling the most unyielding foe of all: Doubt.

More Past Shows

2008

Jule Horne's Gorgeous Avatar
November 2008 
J.B. Priestley's Time and the Conways
June 2008
Tennessee William's The Night of the Iguana
May 2008
White on White
January 2008

2007

Anthony Neilson's The Night before Christmas
December 2007
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged
December 2007
Mary Chase's Cocktails with Mimi
May 2007

2006

Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound
November/December 2006
West Side Stories : A Musical Review
October/November 2006
Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy
July/August 2006

2005

Terry Prattchett's and Steven Brigg's Maskerade
       Autumn 2005 
William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
       Autumn 2005 
Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra
       Summer 2005
Alan Ayckbourn's Woman In Mind
       Summer 2005
William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
       January 2005

2004

Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy
       December 2004
Neil Simon's Rumors
       Winter 2004
Stage & Beyond. Open Stage 
       (with scenes from:
      C.C. Gail, Anything For You,
      Ch. Durang, Beyond Therapy,
      B. Henley, Crimes of the Heart,
      N. Coward, Hay Fever,
      S. Yankowitz, Night Sky)
       Summer 2004

2003

Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods - 
       Summer 2003
Ben Elton's Popcorn
       Winter 2002/03


2002

Shakespeare Live! Festival: Romeo and Juliet/ Macbeth
       Summer 2002
Willy Russell's Blood Brothers (Musical)
       Summer 2002
Patrick Marber's Closer
Winter 2002
Felix Rieckmann's The American Express(Musical)
       Winter 2002

2001

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit
       Summer 2001

2000

Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap
Winter 2000 
Little Shop Of Horrors
       Winter 2000
William Shakespeare's A Midsummernight's Dreame
       Summer 2000

1990s

My Fair Lady (Musical)
      1999
Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest
       Jan. 1998
Edward Albee's The American Dream
       July 1998
Frank McGuiness's Someone Who'll Watch Over Me (cooperation with Theater Trennt, MA & Studiobühne TIP, Ludwigshafen)
       July 1998
Sam Shepard's Fool For Love (co-production of Theater Trennt (MA) & Schauspielgruppe des AS)
       Summer 1996
William Shakespeare's As You Like It
       Summer 1996 
Samuel Beckett's Not I, Rockaby, Come and Go, Rough for Theatre II
Winter 1995
Vaclav Havel's The Unveiling (transl. Jan Novak) 
       March 1995 
Maria Irene Forn's Mud
       Jan. 1994
Monty Python's The Naughty Bits,A cheap Remake
Summer 1993 
Willy Russell's Educating Rita (coproduction with Drama Society, Univ. of Mannheim)
       Summer 1993
Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
       Summer 1992 
Alan Ayckbourn's Confusions
       Summer 1991 
Thornton Wilder's Proserpina and the Devil & The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden
       Jan. 1991 
A.R. Gurney's The Dining Room
       Summer 1990
John Osborne's Look Back in Anger
       Jan. 1990

1980s

John Osborne's Look Back in Anger
       Winter 1989/90
Tom Stoppard's Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
       Summer 1989
Harold Pinter's Betrayal & Phil Young's Crystal Clear
       Summer 1988
Georg Büchner's Woyzek (adapt. by Schauspielgruppe)
       Summer 1987
Anon. Lost. Second Shepherd's Play
       May 1987
Tennessee Williams' Suddenly Last Summer
       Feb. 1986
Harold Pinter's A Night Out & The Lover
       July 1985
Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy
       Feb. 1985
Caryl Churchill's Vinegar Tom
       Summer 1984
William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
       Feb. 1984
Arthur Kopit's Chamber Music
       Summer 1983
Barrie Keefe's A Mad World, My Masters
       Feb. 1983
Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus
       June 1982
The Wizard of Oz (Musical)
       Summer 1981
Peter Shaffer's Equus
       Winter 1980/81
Peter Shaffer's Equus
       July 1980

1970s

Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth
       Summer 1979
Muck from Three Authors, An Evening of one-act plays by 
       Joe Orton (Ruffian on the Stair), 
       David Halliwell (Muck from Three Angels) & 
       Harold Pinter (The Black and the White)
       Winter 1978
Steps in the Right Direction (an evening of sketches inspired by Beyond the Fringe)
       Summer 1978
William Wycherley's The Country Wife
       Summer 1978
Edward Bond's The Sea
       Winter 1977/78
Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest
       Summer 1977 
Brendan Behan's The Hostage
       Winter 1975/76
William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
       Summer 1975
Much Ado About Little. An Evening of Sketches and one-act plays
       Jan. 1975
Pinter's Last To GoNightThe Applicant; Saunders' A Slight Accident; Simpson's Glady Otherwise
       Winter 1974/75
Simon Gray's Butley (CA, 3/2,50 DM)
       Summer 1974
David Halliwell's Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs
       Winter 1972/73
Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound
       Summer 1972
Joe Orton's What the Butler Saw
       Winter 1971/72
Harold Pinter's The Room The Dumb Waiter
       Summer 1971
Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey
       Winter 1970/71
Middleton & Rowley's The Changeling
       Summer 1970

1960s

C.H. Hazelwood's Lady Audley's Secret
       Winter 1969/70
William Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona
       Summer 1969
C.P. Taylor's Allergy & Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party
       Winter 1968/69
George Farquhar's The Beaux Strategem
       Summer 1968
Middleton & Rowley's The Changeling
       Summer 1968
Edward Albee's The American Dream
       Winter 1967/68
N.F. Simpson's The Hole
       Dec. 1967
William Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors
       July 1967
Noel Coward's Fallen Angels
       Jan. 1967
William Shakespeare's The Tempest or The Enchanted Island. Adapted by William Davenant and John Dryden
       July 1966
G.B. Shaw's Too True to be Good
       Jan./Feb. 1966
George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer
       July 1965
William Shakespeare's A Midsomer Nights Dreame
       July 1964
G.B. Shaw's Pygmalion
       Jan. 1964
Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest
       Jan. 1964