1. Scope
The general terms of business regulate the legal relations between the Wuerttemberg State Theatres of Stuttgart (State Theatre) and its guests and visitors (visitor). With acquisition of a ticket or signing of a subscription contract these conditions are considered to be agreed to. For subscribers the subscription terms additionally apply. The general terms of business apply to members of visitor's organisations, as long as no different terms have been agreed upon.
2. Programme and start times
Valid programmes with start times are announced by the State Theatres in their regular publications and on the Internet. The State Theatres reserve the right to make changes. In case of a performance change or a performance cancellation or a change of the start time the State Theatres will try to inform the visitors in good time about this. For announcements and publications, in particular if these occur through a third party (e.g. the press), the State Theatres will not accept any liability. Compensation claims of every kind are expressly excluded.
3. Opening hours
a) The day and evening box office and the telephone booking service are open according to the times quoted in the State Theatres' regular publications.
b) The evening box office opens one hour prior to the performance. This also applies to performances in the morning and afternoon. At the evening box office only tickets for the evening performance are sold. The evening box office closes strictly at the start of a performance.
4. Ticket sale, orders and reservations
a) Advance booking starts according to the time schedule published by the State Theatres. If the first advance booking day is a Saturday or Sunday, it begins on Friday. If it is a public holiday it starts on the previous day. Advance booking may start earlier for specific productions and specific months. More information about advance booking terms are regulated according to publications of the State Theatres.
b) In particular cases, the State Theatres reserve the right to limit the number of tickets sold per person as well as sales in terms of time, sale of discounted tickets and/or certain distribution channels. Ticket contingents provided for the ticket sale are dependent in particular on the contractual obligations of the State Theatres with subscribers and visitor's organisations.
c) Ticket orders are binding according to the following regulations and oblige you to acceptance and payment of booked tickets. Regulations of distance sale contracts do not apply. A cancellation right does not exist. In case of delayed or non-payment new orders are not possible until the entire payment of existing demands are paid.
d) Telephone ticket reservations are possible at the beginning of the advance booking, at the earliest. Tickets ordered by telephone are considered temporarily reserved and remain reserved until 7 days prior to the performance. The order becomes binding only with receipt of payment.
The date by which the tickets must be picked up or must be paid at the latest, is quoted in the confirmation of the reservation. After this time limit the State Theatres can dispose of the tickets otherwise. Until receipt of complete payment of the tickets, they remain the property of the State Theatres.
After payment tickets can be deposited either at the box office or sent to the customer on request. The buyer bears the risk of dispatch of the tickets. In case of loss the State Theatres are not obliged to pay compensation.
A handling charge and dispatch fee can be charged for the dispatch which is due together with payment of the tickets. Deposited ticket which are not collected, will not be refunded. Exceptionally, for the evening box office reserved tickets remain reserved up to ½ hour prior to the start of the performance and are returned to open sale, if they are not picked up by then.
e) Written ticket orders by post, fax or email are processed at the beginning of ticket advance booking in the order of receipt contemporaneous with the beginning of sale at the day box office and telephone order service. Only after the receipt of a telephone or written confirmation from the State Theatres are ordered tickets temporarily reserved. The order becomes binding with receipt of payment for the tickets. Apart from that the same regulations as in segment c) apply.
f) On-line ticket orders are limited to the seats marked as available seats on the internet. By sending the ticket reservation the customer makes an offer for the conclusion of a contract and receives an email with the confirmation of the ticket purchase and a transaction number. The confirmation is subject to the withdrawal condition that on receipt of payment to the account of the State Theatres the ordered tickets are no longer available. In this case the customer has no right to claim the ordered tickets. Discounts can not be considered for on-line ticket sale. Payments can only be made by credit card (American Express, MasterCard and VISA) or by direct bank debit. A fee will be charged for processing and dispatch which is payable together with the ticket price. Apart from that the same regulations as in segment c) apply.
The State Theatres reserve the right to change the performances or seats on offer for on-line ticket sale at any time and without special advice, furthermore, to complement or extinguish on-line ticket sale for a limited time or completely.
g) In case of default the State Theatres reserve the right to charge default interest at the rate of 5% above the base rate stated in § 247 Civil Code.
h) Special regulations apply to group orders, for more information please call the following telephone number +49 711. 2032-330 erfragt werden können.
5. Entry prices and discounts
a) Valid entry prices are evident in the publications and notices of the State Theatres. Special pricing is possible for particular events (e.g., special events, guest performances). Moreover, it is left to the State Theatres to carry out short-term, performance-related discount campaigns.
b) Pupils, students, community service and military service personnel (up to 30 years) as well as people absolving a voluntary social year can receive tickets at a reduced rate by presentation of an official identity card. This applies to a restricted number of seats in advance sale only for certain price categories and at the evening box office immediately prior to the performance depending on availability for all price categories (remaining tickets).
Discounts in certain price categories can also be granted for children up to 14 years accompanied by an adult as well as for disabled people upon presentation of an official identity card. For performances of the theatre this also applies for unemployed visitors upon presentation of a suitable identity card.
Accompanying persons of disabled people can receive tickets for a discounted price if the identity card of the disabled person is marked "B" for the required accompanying person. If there is no "B" noted on the identity card, the full ticket price is payable.
c) A discount can only be granted if the visitor has given notice of this when the purchase or the reservation of the tickets was made. After completion of the reservation process discounts can no longer be granted.
d) Discounted tickets are only valid in connection with an identity card entitling to a discount. A combination of several discounts is not possible. The identity card has to be shown together with the admission ticket upon entry to the auditorium. If the presented identity card contains no photo, an additional photo identity (e.g. identity card or drivers licence) is to be presented.
e) Discounts can be altered by the State Theatres at any time. Moreover, the State Theatres are entitled to limit the release of discounted tickets for certain venues, events, seat or price categories etc. or to exclude them completely. At premieres, guest performances, special events as well as for on-line ticket sales no claim to receive discounts can be made. Discounts do not apply to fees.
f) In accordance with the printing on the entry ticket, the ticket price includes the authorisation to also use the entry ticket as a ticket for use of the public transport system of Stuttgart (VVS). The ticket is valid three hours prior to the start of the event to get to the venue and after the end of the event for the return journey (2nd class). Whether the visitor takes advantage of this service or not, is irrelevant.
In regard to the use of the entry ticket as a public transport ticket, a separate contractual relationship exists between the customer and the public transport system of Stuttgart (VVS) to which the conditions of carriage of the Stuttgart's Transport and Tariff Authority (VVS) apply.
6. Exchange, return and loss of tickets
a) Sold tickets can neither be returned nor exchanged. Compensation for expired tickets will not be paid.
b) Changes in cast as well as other short-term changes of the performance process or cases of vis major (traffic obstruction, illness, strike, weather conditions and the like) do not entitle to the return of the tickets. If another play is performed instead of the one announced when purchasing the ticket, paid for tickets can be returned.
If a performance has been interrupted, as long as at the time of interruption less than one half of the performance has been staged, a substitute performance will be offered or if this can not occur due to schedule-technical or other reasons the entry price will be refunded. Any further claims in these cases are excluded; in particular, futile expenditures of visitors, e.g. travelling or accommodation costs etc can not be refunded. The claim to a refund of the entry price expires if it is not asserted within ten days.
c) In case of a ticket loss the State Theatres will issue a replacement ticket as long as the buyer proves by providing detailed seat information or competent authority, which ticket has been purchased. If the original ticket as well as a replacement ticket is presented for the same seat by a different visitor, the owner of the original ticket has precedence over the owner of the replacement ticket. In this case the replacement ticket does not entitle the allocation of a different seat. The admission staff does not check whether the owner of the original ticket owns it lawfully.
7. Admission to the performances
a) In general the foyers are opened one hour prior to the start of a performance.
b) When entering the auditorium the valid ticket or subscription identity card and in case of discounted tickets the suitable authorisation identity card is to be shown to the admission staff.
c) Once the performance has started, visitors can due to safety reasons and in the interest of the artists and the other visitors, only enter the auditorium at a certain time which is set by the artistic management (e.g., a set change, interval) and without any claim to the issued ticket seat. The visitors are asked to follow the instructions of the admission staff with regard to the admission time as well as the available seats. For certain performances late admission may be completely excluded.
8. Reduced visibility
On account of architectural circumstances or also the staging of a performance, view restrictions from certain seats are possible. You can enquire with our sales team about seats with view restrictions.
9. Cloakroom
a) Cloakroom items (coats, umbrellas, large bags etc.) may not be taken into the auditorium but should be left with the responsible cloakroom staff. This applies to bags up to a size of approx. 40 x 40 x 20 cm. Lockers are available for larger bags and luggage pieces.
b) When handing in cloakroom items a cloakroom coupon is provided. The stored cloakroom items are handed out in accordance with the return of the cloakroom coupon without checking the entitlement of the person handing in the cloakroom coupon.
c) In case of loss of the cloakroom coupon the cloakroom items can only be handed out after all other visitors have collected their items. In this case the visitor is obliged to provide his name, address and telephone number to the cloakroom staff and to pay 2.50 EUR for the lost coupon. Transposed, damaged or lost items as well as the loss of a cloakroom coupon are to be brought to the attention of the cloakroom staff immediately
d) The State Theatres are only liable for loss of or damages to the stored items if the cloakroom staff has violated its safekeeping duties intentionally or gross-negligently. The liability is limited to the current value or to a maximum of 250 EUR for all stored items relating to one cloakroom coupon. Identity cards and documents of all kind, credit cards, cash, keys and valuables like jewellery, electronic devices etc. are excluded from liability, in particular also if these objects are in coat pockets or containers. The storage of these items will occur at the visitor's own risk.
10. Surtitles
Due to the architectural circumstances of the opera-house the surtitles during performances of foreign-language pieces in the opera-house do not have unrestricted view from all seats. You can enquire with our sales team about seats with restrictions.
11. Taking pictures and/or recording sound
a) Picture (film, video etc.) and/or sound-recordings of performances or any other events of the State Theatres are prohibited due to copyright reasons. Taking photos during a performance is not permitted. In case of infringements the admission staff is entitled to collect recording devices as well as cameras, excluding any liability, and to withhold them until the end of the performance. If necessary the visitor can be excluded from the visit of the performance.
Recording material of any kind covering any parts of the performance are confiscated by the State Theatres and kept and can only be returned to the owner after deletion of the recordings.
Infringements can lead not only to claim for damages, but are also a criminal offence.
b) In case of the State Theatres recording a performance or an event or arranging for a recording to be made the visitors agree to the fact that they might appear in images or may be voice recorded and these recordings may be published or used without entitlement to remuneration.
12. Lost properties
The loss of items is to be brought to the attention of the admission or cloakroom staff immediately. Items of any kind which are found within areas of the State Theatres are to be delivered to the admission or cloakroom staff. The items are kept by the State Theatres for a period of 6 months. Apart from that §§ 978 ff. of the Civil Code (BGB) applies.
13. Domiciliary right
a) The State Theatres exercise domiciliary right in all of their venues. They are entitled to expel or ban visitors from their venues according to their domiciliary right or to take other suitable measures. In particular, visitors can be expelled from performances if they cause a disturbance, bother other visitors or have violated the general terms of business in any other or considerable manner or repeatedly. Admission can be refused if a justified assumption exists that the visitor will disturb the performance or bother other visitors.
b) The visitor may only be seated on the seat quoted on his ticket. If a visitor has taken a seat for which he holds no valid ticket the State Theatres can charge the price difference or expel the visitor from the performance.
c) Mobile devices as well as other devices of any kind which produce acoustic or optical signals may only be taken inside the auditorium when switched off.
d) Bringing food and drinks into the auditorium and the consumption thereof in the auditorium are prohibited.
e) Smoking is not permitted on the premises of the State Theatres.
f) In case of fire or other danger situations the visitors have to leave the house immediately without detours through the marked emergency exits. In these cases it is not possible to collect objects from the cloakroom. The instructions of the house staff are to be followed without exceptions.
g) Resale of tickets for raised prices is not permitted.
14. Liability
The State Theatres are only liable for personal injuries and damages to property suffered by a visitor on the premises of the State Theatres in case of intention or gross-negligence. Liability is excluded in all other cases.
15. Data protection
As an institution of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg the State Theatres will treat personal data confidentially according to the applicable Data Protection Law and will not provide any data to a third party for advertising purposes. External service providers who process customer data, e.g. for the dispatch of information or publications on behalf of the State Theatres, are strictly obliged under contract to follow the State Data Protection Law and are not considered a third party in terms of the Data Protection Law.
Customer order data is used and saved in accordance with the Data Protection Law to the necessary extent for the processing and documentation of the orders. The customer number will record the name, address, as the case may be the telephone number, e-mail address as well as bank or credit card information, credit card numbers, however, without the card security code (KPN).
If the use of order data was agreed to for information and customer service purposes, it is used among other things to address a customer by letter and e-mail. The approval can be revoked at any time and without detriment by post, e-mail or on our website under 'customer data'.
According to § 21, 22 LState Data Protection Law (Landesdatenschutzgesetz) the visitor has the right to inquire information saved about him or her at any time and if necessary, to request correction. Inquiries dealing with data protection are to be directed to the data protection representative of the State Theatres, Mrs Michaela Klapka, via e-mail at: datenschutz@staatstheater-stuttgart.de
16. Applicable law / place of performance / place of jurisdiction
Only German law is applicable. This also applies to the ticket sale on the Internet. Place of performance is Stuttgart.
17. Taking effect
The general terms of business will take effect on September 1, 2008.