The fact that Commerzbank, as the landlord, can no longer help the English Theatre Frankfurt in the fight for the preservation of the venue is not a good signal. Theatre director Daniel Nicolai had placed a lot of hope in being able to convince the owner Capitaland to keep the theatre in the Gallileo high-rise. This project has failed, as the theatre has recently made clear. At its own discretion, the bank's influence has been exhausted, owner Capitaland is not interested in any solution, it is said.

For a long time, the theatre had the impression that the Singaporean investor was quite willing to find an amicable solution. This hope is over for the time being. Now, like the Roman faction of the Left, to point out the investor's lack of cultural understanding is obvious and justified, but also a bit too simplistic. After all, Capitaland is not contractually bound to maintain the playing space for the theater.

Theatre needs strong allies

Because it has probably been neglected to pass on the corresponding passage in the change of ownership of the high-rise building. "Commerzbank has caused this dilemma because it has not transferred the agreement between the bank and the city to Capitaland," the theater has now emphasized. Should the city have had this cultural use entered in the land register, as the Left thinks?

In fact, the theatre is now apparently dependent on a change of opinion from the new owner in order to reach an agreement after all. This makes it all the more important to finally have direct talks. So far, according to the theater, Commerzbank has only been able to communicate with the legal department of the Singaporean investor. With his repeatedly expressed hope for stronger political pressure from the city, the state of Hesse and for help from the Federal Commissioner for Culture, Claudia Roth, Nicolai also makes it clear that he sees politics as having a duty.

After all, he needs strong allies to convince Capitaland that the theatre in the base of the now almost completely empty skyscraper is not a mortgage, but an enrichment. Not only for the culture of the region. Also for the reputation of those involved.