Last year, the city council decided to replace the fire alarm and security lighting systems at the Idar-Oberstein municipal theater. The two safety systems date back to 1999, when the former festival hall was converted into today's municipal theater. They are technically outdated and no longer comply with current guidelines. It is therefore essential to replace the two systems. The cost estimate for the overall measure assumes an investment of around 600,000 euros.
In order to keep the closing time of the municipal theater as short as possible, both measures will be carried out in parallel. The necessary specialist plans have already been drawn up this year, with implementation scheduled for next year. As a number of events have already been booked for the first half of the year, construction work will begin on Monday, May 11, 2026, after which the Idar-Oberstein Municipal Theatre is expected to be unavailable as a venue until the end of 2026. This will not affect the use of the building by TV Oberstein and the Offener Kanal.
Those responsible are of course aware that the temporary loss of this venue means a considerable restriction for the cultural sector. This also affects the city's cultural program. However, the measure is unavoidable to ensure the safety of visitors.