Just imagine you're queuing outside a theatre, when suddenly the characters from the play you are going to see come and serve you drinks and start chatting to you. Then when you get inside there aren't just row upon row of seats, there are tables with table cloths on and a menu. Then the same characters (all the time playing the part they take in the play) come and take your order for drinks and food. The menu is always themed to suit the play, and when everyone has finished eating the play begins. You can buy tickets in the evening at the theatre itself, or in the Luisencentre. Most nights are sold out and there's no set seating, the only way you can reserve a place is to become a friend of the theatre, so you have to get there pretty early, especially if you want a table. The plays (even Shakespeare) are in German, so you will need to be relatively proficient. But it all makes for one of the best nights out in Darmstadt. ---- Addendum Just be warned that sometimes, like tonight, the food service can go completely to cock. Eventually you have a bare 15 minutes to eat up before the play begins. You try to order coffee for the interval, only to be told to wait and ask later, even though everyone else had managed to do so, eventually you begin to wonder what on earth you might have done to upset the waiter as he walks past you again and again without even a cursory glance, it didn't get any better in the interval either, I had to leave half my dessert so as not to clatter my cutlery during the play and the people sitting round me didn't fair any better, although the ones across the room seemed to be getting sterling service (with a smile no less). Such a shame because I'd managed to get hubby to come with me for the first, and possibly the last time. Ho hum, luckily the play was excellent, though I must admit, it's not the version of 1001 nights my mum used to tell me. read more