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Locations and dates
Atze Schröder and Helge Schneider played here before they became famous. The Cabaret Queue is a small arts stage with flair. An interview with its director Helmut Sanftenschneider.
For two decades, the critical songwriter Fred Ape has shaped the program of the small arts stage in Dortmund-Hörde. Now, the house at Phönixsee is run by Iris and Helmut Sanftenschneider. Both are well-known in the industry; Helmut Sanftenschneider is a musician and cabaret artist. He has presented his show "Nachtschnittchen" at many locations in the Ruhr area.
How did the regular audience react when you took over the Cabaret?
Sanftenschneider:
It is incredible how many emotions people associate with the Cabaret Queue. It has been around for 40 years. Some people met there or spent their youth there.
What ideas do you have for the small theater?
Sanftenschneider:
I have many show formats swirling in my head. Until now, I had to convince other theaters. Now I just need to excite the two managing directors – my wife Iris and our partner Steffen Nowitzki. For example, Benjamin Eisenberg and Matthias Reuter have been doing a cabaret-style annual review for a long time. It is very successful; I suggested they do a monthly review with a well-known artist as a guest.
Did you change anything visually at the Cabaret Queue?
Sanftenschneider:
Easy. The technician's position in the hall used to be called UFO. We completely removed that. The cables had to be relaid; a lot was modernized in the kitchen. But the audience doesn't see that. We will continue to tweak and work in the background.
Having a gastronomy in-house is certainly a big advantage, isn’t it?
Sanftenschneider:
Definitely. People always want the whole package. They want to go home satisfied, it should of course be delicious, and they want to see something. That's why the dinner attack works so well. We want and need to make money, and we orient ourselves to what people want. So it might be that there will soon be even more combinations of small arts and food.
Will there also be spontaneous performances? For example, with you as the host?
Sanftenschneider:
Of course, I will often appear, do moderations, try out things. I am a guitarist and will definitely spontaneously connect my instrument and make a bit of music, just in the background with my daughter, who is a singer.
