The theater initially operated in the three classical genres of opera, dance, and drama. Legendary performances include 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 purely spoken theater. For several years, an umbrella organization has brought the areas together: In the "Theater und Philharmonie Essen" (TUP), the Aalto Music Theater, the Philharmonie Essen, and of course the Grillo are united.
From 1985 to 1992, Hansgünther Heyme was the head of drama, whose cultural-political commitment secured the preservation of the Grillo. Under his direction, renovations resulted in a reduction of the hall to 400 seats in 1990. After Heyme, Jürgen Bosse took over, followed by Anselm Weber, who gave the region 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 identification of the audience with his theater.
