FTTS
The Freie Tanz- und Theaterszene Stuttgart gUG (FTTS for short) was founded in 2018 by representatives of three regional associations: Produktionszentrum Tanz + Performance e. V., Freie Theater Stuttgart e. V., and Vereinigung freier darstellender Künstlerinnen und Künstler für Stuttgart und die Region e. V.
The Freie Tanz- und Theaterszene Stuttgart gUG functions as the artistic operations office for Stuttgart’s independent dance and theater scene, undertaking central theater administration tasks for the decentralized independent performing arts scene.
Institutionally funded by the City of Stuttgart, it acts as an interface between artists, audiences, city administration, cultural policy, institutions, associations, funding bodies, and the press. Its core tasks include cultural-political representation and networking, consulting, communication, funding, promotion of young talent, and strengthening visibility among the public, media, politics, and administration.
The Freie Tanz- und Theaterszene Stuttgart gUG is committed to developing sustainable infrastructure for the independent performing arts. This includes the cultural activation and interim use of existing buildings, the expansion of decentralized performance and rehearsal venues, and the establishment of a rehearsal and production house.
Freie Theater Stuttgart e. V.
represented by Ronja Schweikert
The association Freie Theater Stuttgart e.V. (FTS) was founded in 2002 with the aim of forming an umbrella organization for freelance theater professionals in the Stuttgart area, maintaining contact with cultural policy, strengthening exchange and cooperation between ensembles, securing or improving funding, and ensuring artistic development.
The main goals of FTS’s work are public relations, ensuring the artistic development of independent theater professionals, and providing regular input to maintain innovative strength.
To the website
Produktionszentrum Tanz + Performance e. V.
represented by Laura Sommerfeld
The Produktionszentrum Tanz + Performance e.V. (PZ) is an established venue for the professional independent dance and performance scene in Stuttgart. It was founded in 2001 by Hans Peter-Glathe, Catarina Mora, Alexander Frangenheim, Silke Kabisch, and Marco Santi, and has since enabled artists to create pioneering dance.
The production center offers freelance artists from the fields of dance, performance, and physical theater a space to strengthen their practice, realize their own and collaborative projects, and conduct research. Members can use the rehearsal rooms for developing productions and also receive support with public relations for their projects.
The association currently manages two rehearsal rooms, offers professional training, workshops, and intensive weeks. Since 2010, the Produktionszentrum Tanz + Performance has been housed in the old Felsenkeller in Stuttgart-Feuerbach. The rehearsal room is a large, listed dance hall from the 19th century. The production center also acts as an initiator and cooperation partner for interdisciplinary projects and events in regional and national contexts.
To the website
Vereinigung freier darstellender Künstlerinnen und Künstler für Stuttgart und die Region e. V.
represented by Bernhard Eusterschulte
FTTS Office Team
Philipp Wolpert & Tobias Frühauf
Philipp Wolpert (he/him) and Tobias Frühauf (he/him)
Management
geschaeftsfuehrung@ftts-stuttgart.de
Philipp Wolpert (born 1997) and Tobias Frühauf (born 1994) work as the theatre duo Tacheles & Tarantismus at the intersection of the independent performing arts scene, public cultural institutions and pop culture, taking on roles as cultural managers, producers, writers and directors. They develop concepts and formats for sustainable, future-oriented audience development for cultural institutions.
Since July 2025, they have been Managing Directors of the ↗Freie Tanz- und Theaterszene Stuttgart gUG.
Beyond the traditional theatre context, their plays and productions can be seen in nightclubs, museums, former freight railway stations, casinos and municipal offices. In 2020, they received an award from the German Federal Government’s Initiative Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft (Cultural and Creative Industries Initiative) for their concepts »Technotheater« and »Trap-Oper«. Their productions and stage works have been presented at Schauspiel Dortmund, Schauspiel Stuttgart, Münchner Volkstheater, Staatstheater Meiningen and Theater Heilbronn. Further projects have been developed in collaboration with, among others, the Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn, the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt am Main, Literaturhaus Heilbronn and experimenta Heilbronn. In 2022/23, together with Friedrich von Borries, they realised the year-long urban theatre project »Hauptstadt der Folgenlosigkeit« (Capital of Consequence-Free Living) in Heilbronn, which included, among other things, the announcement of fellowships for doing nothing. Since September 2023, they have been the Artistic Directors of Theaterschiff Heilbronn, where they have produced, among other works, the world premiere of »Vielleicht 5 Jahre« by Paulina Czienskowski (directed by Lena Brasch) and the theatre installation »JUICE« by River Roux, created as a co-production with the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.
Natalie Paxian
Natalie Paxian (she/her)
Project Management, Administration of Performance Funding, and Office Collaboration
info@ftts-stuttgart.de
With training as a state-certified dance teacher and later studies as a cultural manager, Natalie Paxian (*1990) combines her artistic flair with business expertise. Since 2023, she has been contributing these skills as an employee of the FTTS office, advocating for Stuttgart’s artists. In addition to her academic background, she also brings experience from the administration of the Theater am Torbogen in Rottenburg and from self-employment in third-party funding acquisition, production, and financial management for freelance artists.
Dr. Bernhard Stumpfhaus
Dr. Bernhard Stumpfhaus (he/him)
Development and Artistic Consulting
bernhard.stumpfhaus@ftts-stuttgart.de
Dr. Bernhard Stumpfhaus (*1963) holds a doctorate in cultural history. In addition to seminars and research projects on emotions in the arts and surrealism in Frankfurt and Bochum, he designed various exhibitions for archives and institutions regionally and nationally. His cultural-political commitment and his particular interest in human language are evident in numerous lectures and scientific publications. Behind the scenes, he works as a consultant for visual artists, media artists, and exhibition organizers. He served as editor-in-chief of the Heilbronn city magazine Hanix and head of communication for WFG Raum Heilbronn GmbH.
Gunter Votteler
Gunter Votteler (he/him)
Technical Director
technik@ftts-stuttgart.de
Gunter Votteler (*1955) is a trained stage master and was involved in the establishment of the Theaterhaus in Wangen. After a two-year period as a freelance technician, he served for 30 years as the technical director of the Treffpunkt Rotebühlplatz for the City of Stuttgart. During this time, he collaborated with numerous actors from Stuttgart’s independent dance and theater scene and set up their productions. He retired in 2021. In October 2025, he returned to the independent scene and has since taken over the management of the technical pool for the FTTS gUG.