The theater initially operated in the three classical areas of opera, dance, and drama. Among the legendary performances is the choreography "The Green Table" by Kurt Jooss (1932) as well as productions by Erwin Piscator and Jean-Louis Barrault. Soon, the Grillo became too small and transformed into a pure spoken theater. For several years, an umbrella organization has combined the areas: In the "Theater und Philharmonie Essen" (TUP) are united the Aalto Music Theater, the Philharmonie Essen, and of course the Grillo.
From 1985 to 1992, Hansgünther Heyme was the head of drama, whose cultural-political commitment ensured the preservation of the Grillo. Under his direction, the transformation into a variable space theater was carried out by the architect Werner Ruhnau, who, for the reopening in September 1990, resulted in a reduction of the auditorium to 400 seats. After Heyme, Jürgen Bosse took over, followed by Anselm Weber, who provided the region with a stage that overshadowed the traditionally more significant one in Bochum. With interventions in the urban space, the integration of young people and socially relevant themes, as well as with prominent directors – including the rising star David Bösch – Weber achieved a high level of audience identification with his theater.
