End of the 17th century, a court theatre was established at the Electoral Palace, where French and Italian troupes played.

In the 18th century, an amateur theatre was established for German plays (Nationaltheater), directed by Gustav Friedrich Wilhelm Großmann from 1778 to 1784, who staged the premiere of Schiller's Die Verschwörung des Fiesko zu Genua on 20 July 1783.

[3] A new building was opened in 1848, marked by Beethoven's overture Die Weihe des Hauses (The Consecration of the House).

[2] After World War II, temporary venues for theatre were a university hall, a gymnasium, a cinema,[2] and the Prachtbau of the Bonner Bürgerverein [de], completed in 1909.

Intendant Claude Riber invited international singers to perform opera, while plays focused on Austrian contemporary drama, initiated by Peter Eschberg [de].