In the late 1770s the theatre principal Abel Seyler was based in Frankfurt, and established the city's theatrical life.

[3][4] Its traditional house, the Schauspielhaus, built in 1902 by architect Heinrich Seeling at the Theaterplatz (now Willy-Brandt-Platz) was destroyed in World War II during an air raid in 1944.

[6] When Harry Buckwitz was general manager, the ruins of the Schauspielhaus were restructured to house both play and opera.

[6][3] Buckwitz focused on plays by Bertolt Brecht, including the world premiere of Die Gesichte der Simone Machard in 1957.

[7] On 31 October 1985, the planned first performance of Fassbinder's Garbage, the City and Death caused a theater scandal.