The Meiningen Ensemble, also known as the

Meiningen Meiningen () is a town in the southern part of the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in the region of Franconia and has a population of around 26,000 (2024).

Company, was a troupe of actors led by the

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...

Saxe-Meiningen Saxe-Meiningen ( ; ) was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine duchies, Ernestine line of the House of Wettin, located in the southwest of the present-day Germany, German state of Thuringia. Established in 1681, by partition of the Ern ...

, his wife Ellen Franz, and Ludwig Chronegk. The group operated from about 1860 to 1890. The Meininger company had great influence in the Western World as it developed

theatrical realism Realism was a general Art movement, movement that began in Nineteenth-century theatre, 19th-century theatre, around the 1870s, and remained present through much of the Twentieth-century theatre, 20th century. 19th-century realism is closely connec ...

, the creative and interpretive role of the director, and the use of ensemble acting. Meiningen company productions used the approach of

Gesamtkunstwerk A ''Gesamtkunstwerk'' (, 'total work of art', 'ideal work of art', 'universal artwork', 'synthesis of the arts', 'comprehensive artwork', or 'all-embracing art form') is a work of art that makes use of all or many art forms or strives to do so. ...

, or "total work of art," which involves an expanded creative process that unifies disciplines, such as sets, lighting, acting, music, song, and dance, into a dynamic whole. In 1874, the Meininger company appeared in Berlin. It performed at London's Drury Lane in ''Julius Caesar'', ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...

'', and ''

The Winter's Tale ''The Winter's Tale'' is a play by William Shakespeare originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, many modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some criti ...

'' during 1881. The company toured widely until 1890, when Chronegk's health failed. The company's methodology had a great influence on

Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright, poet and actor. Ibsen is considered the world's pre-eminent dramatist of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama." He pioneered ...

Antoine Antoine is a French language, French given name (from the Latin ''Antonius'' meaning 'highly praise-worthy') that is a variant of Danton (name), Danton, Titouan, D'Anton and Antonin. The name is most common in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada ...

, and Stanislavski.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meiningen Ensemble 19th-century theatre Theatre companies in Germany Culture in Meiningen