Volkstheater Millowitsch

The stage on Aachener Straße near Rudolfplatz became known across Germany as the Millowitsch Theatre, thanks to folk actor Willy Millowitsch. Since 2015 the venue has operated as the Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz.

At a glance

• Venue since: 1936 on Aachener Straße
• Made famous by: television broadcasts from 1953
• Today: Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz (since 2015)
• Programme: boulevard comedy, plays, guest performances, events

Seven generations of theatre history

The Millowitsch family has been linked to Cologne theatre since the 18th century – first as puppeteers, then from the late 19th century with live actors. In 1936 the company settled on Aachener Straße. The live broadcasts from 1953 made it one of Germany's best-known dialect stages. In 2018 Peter Millowitsch disbanded the ensemble after seven generations; the venue has since run year-round as the Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz.