# Insurance for independent theatres, cabaret stages and touring companies in Germany

> An independent theatre runs on a few people, a lot of equipment and an audience finding its way to the seats over steps in the dark. A spotlight comes loose, a guest falls on the stairs, the lead actor falls ill on opening night: suddenly a lot of money is at stake. Whether you run a cabaret stage, a puppet theatre, an English language theatre or a touring company in Germany, this page explains which insurance makes sense and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-theatre-and-cabaret-stage.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Who pays if a show is cancelled because the lead actor is ill?

Without your own insurance, nobody but you. Business liability only pays for damage to third parties. The costs of a cancelled show, such as rent, equipment and advertising, are covered by event cancellation insurance taken out for a production or tour. Illness of performers has to be included explicitly.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** No statutory insurance duty for theatres in Germany; venue owners, municipalities and hosts of guest performances almost always require liability cover
- **Biggest risk:** Injured audience members and performers due to stage equipment, steps and darkness
- **Basic cover from:** about €300 a year for the business liability of a small stage with up to 100 seats, a guide figure from our quoting work
- **Artists' social levy:** Theatres are liable for the artists' social security levy under section 24(1) no. 2 of the Artists' Social Insurance Act when they pay fees to self employed artists
- **Often forgotten:** A cancelled show or tour: fees, rent and advertising are paid, the ticket income is missing

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Fall in the auditorium:** Dark steps, cables on the floor, a wobbly stand: an audience member falls and claims damages.
- **Stage equipment:** A spotlight comes loose from the bar, a set piece tips over, a stage platform gives way.
- **Wardrobe and props:** Costumes, sets and props collected over years burn or are ruined by water.
- **Lighting and sound:** Desks, lights and speakers are expensive and break through power surges or falls.
- **Show cancelled:** Illness, power cut or storm: the costs remain, the income is gone.
- **Touring and transport:** The set is damaged during loading, the van has an accident.
- **Damage at someone else's venue:** On tour, the stage floor of the host venue is damaged by set pieces or haze.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 4, Theft 3, Cyber 2, Downtime 4, Health 3

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Covers injuries and property damage to audiences, guests and venue owners. Touring and damage to rented venues should be included. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): For wardrobe, costumes, sets and furniture against fire, burglary and water damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Strongly advised): For lighting, sound and video equipment, including operating errors, surges and falls. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Business interruption** (Strongly advised): As event cancellation or business interruption cover for cancelled shows and closed venues. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Cargo insurance** (Depends on the business): For sets and equipment on tour. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cargo-insurance.php
- **Group accident insurance** (Depends on the business): For ensemble members, volunteers and helpers who are not covered by statutory accident insurance. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-group-accident.php
- **D&O insurance** (Depends on the business): For the board or managing directors of theatre associations and non profit companies, for example in case of mistakes with public funding. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-directors-and-officers.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Depends on the business): For online ticketing, customer data and subscriber lists. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php

## What it costs: example prices

Premiums depend on seating capacity, number of shows, technical equipment, pyrotechnics and touring. Cancellation cover is usually priced per production.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Cabaret stage up to 100 seats, €3 million cover | about €300 to €700 a year |
| Business liability | Independent theatre with 300 seats and touring, €5 million cover | about €800 to €2,000 a year |
| Business contents | Wardrobe and furniture worth €100,000 | about €300 to €800 a year |
| Electronic equipment | Lighting and sound equipment worth €80,000 | about €600 to €1,500 a year |
| Business interruption | Cancellation cover for a tour with €50,000 costs | about €1,000 to €2,500 per tour |

For comparison: Liability cover for a cabaret stage costs about as much a year as one sold out evening with 30 tickets at €20.

_All figures are guide values from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax, as of October 2026. We found no published tariffs for theatres; the source documents the artists' social levy. We obtain the exact quote for you._

- [Gesetze im Internet: section 24 Artists' Social Insurance Act, businesses liable for the levy](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ksvg/__24.html)
- [Gesetze im Internet: section 2 Social Code VII, compulsory accident insurance](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_7/__2.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Stage** (cabaret or small theatre with its own venue): Business liability, Business contents, Electronic equipment. Together: about €1,200 to €3,000 a year
- **Touring** (touring companies without their own venue): Business liability, Electronic equipment, Cargo insurance, Business interruption. Together: about €1,500 to €4,000 a year
- **House** (theatre with its own building, staff, online ticketing and public funding): Business liability, Business contents, Electronic equipment, Business interruption, D&O insurance, Cyber insurance. Together: about €4,000 to €10,000 a year

## The worst day at the theatre

Six things that really happen to independent theatres, all on opening night. Tap through and see who pays.

- 10:00: During focusing, a spotlight falls from the bar and destroys the lighting desk. (€9,000, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 14:30: The lead actor calls in sick and the premiere has to be postponed. (€8,000, Paid by: Business interruption)
- 19:40: An audience member falls on the dark stairs of the seating stand and breaks a wrist. (€7,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 20:15: In the interval a set piece tips against the wall of the rented venue and damages the wood panelling. (€2,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 21:30: At the opening party a guest trips over a stage cable and hits his head. (€6,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 03:00: A cable fire in the wardrobe store destroys costumes and props. (€35,000, Paid by: Business contents)

**Damage so far:** €68,000

## Practical tips from your broker

- Have touring and damage to rented venues written into your liability policy.
- Mention pyrotechnics, haze and open flames on stage when asking for quotes; otherwise cover may be missing.
- Value your wardrobe realistically; self built sets also have a replacement value.
- Take out cancellation cover for big premieres or tours and check that illness is included.
- Clarify whether volunteers, students and amateur performers are covered for accidents.
- Check your obligation to pay the artists' social levy if you pay fees to self employed artists.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **Stage and equipment together:** As an insurance broker we compare several insurers and align liability, wardrobe and equipment cover so no gap remains.
- **Touring included:** Other venues, transport and cancellations are everyday life for touring companies. We make sure your cover travels with you.
- **Association, venue and people:** Norman Nammert, your insurance broker, looks after the theatre association, the venue and the people involved.
- **Family business, placing cover since 1989:** Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. We advise in English or German.

## FAQ

### Is insurance compulsory for theatres in Germany?

Not by law. Venues, municipalities and hosts almost always require liability cover, and without it you will not get contracts.

### What does liability insurance for a cabaret stage cost?

About €300 to €700 a year for up to 100 seats, and about €800 to €2,000 for an independent theatre that tours. These are guide values from our quoting work.

### Is our wardrobe covered if there is a fire?

Only with contents insurance that includes costumes, sets and props with an adequate sum insured.

### Who pays for a cancelled show?

Event cancellation insurance, if it was taken out for the production and the reason, such as illness or storm, is included.

### Does a theatre have to pay the artists' social levy?

Yes, under section 24 of the Artists' Social Insurance Act theatres are among the businesses liable for the levy when they engage self employed artists.

### Are our performers covered for accidents?

Employees are covered by statutory accident insurance by law. For volunteers, amateurs and guests, group accident cover can close the gap.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-theatre-and-cabaret-stage.php#anfrage

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.