One of the new cultural additions to Emmen in recent years, the Atlas Theater has yet to achieve much financial success.
By Hans de Preter / Translation by Traci White
The Atlas Theater, located on the Raadhuisplein, is right next door to the entrance to the Wildlands zoo. According to RTV Drenthe, during a presentation of the annual figures from 2017 and plans for 2018, it was made known that the theatre has made a 771,000-euro loss.
Local governments have invested heavily in Emmen in recent years, including a redesign of the Raadhuisplein which won an architectural prize. The Atlas Theater’s presence on the square is meant to provide a cultural impetus to the Drenthe city.
According to director Machteld van der Werff, the theatre had expected to make a loss in its first years of operation. Atlas Theater is projected to have a loss in 2018 as well: 865,000 euros in the red.
The financial loss at the theater will be made up for by profits from Wildlands – the theater is officially part of the park. Van Der Werff says that the theater will focus on more corporate opportunities in the future.
