In 1914, the city decides to purchase the construction ruin of the variety theater Apollo on Königsallee in order to establish a permanent theater operation. The stage, whose Art Nouveau façade is replaced by a temple front, remains without its own ensemble until the beginning of Saladin Schmitt's directorship in 1919 and is played by guest performances from Düsseldorf. After the theater is destroyed by a bomb attack in 1944, the theater operation continues until the 1950s at the Theater in Stadtpark. In 1953, the Schauspielhaus (according to plans by the Berlin architect Gerhard Moritz Graubner) is reopened with its Great House for over 800 seats and the chamber plays.
The significant artistic director Hans Schalla directs "Richard III." as his debut – the Schauspielhaus Bochum has always been an essential address for Shakespeare performances. This applies especially to the two successors, who were implemented in bold appointments by the respective cultural officer: Peter Zadek (1972 to 1979) and Claus Peymann (1979 to 1986). Bochum will become the first house of the theater republic under them. Frank-Patrick Steckel, Leander Haußmann, and Matthias Hartmann (who ensured the overdue general renovation in 2000) follow as directors. Artistic director Johan Simons was able to rejoice in 2022 at the title “Theater of the Year.”
