INFiLED transformed the foyer of Cologne’s oldest surviving theatre, the Volksbühne at Rudolfplatz, into an immersive visual experience ahead of performances of the award-winning musical comedy Himmel und Kölle.
Before the curtain rose, audiences were welcomed into an alternative version of the West German city thanks to a striking 70 m² LED installation that turned the theatre entrance into a pre-show gallery.
The installation was created by the production company behind Himmel und Kölle (Heaven and Cologne) — whose current run lasts until the end of March — in collaboration with al-media, with the aim of setting the mood for a production that celebrates the city of Cologne with humour and imagination.
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Few cities are as central to their own storytelling as Cologne, and this is reflected in Himmel und Kölle, where the city itself is almost a character in the production. The musical comedy was named Cologne’s cultural event of the year in 2021 and has since received four musical and theatre awards.
Its return to sold-out performances at the Volksbühne at Rudolfplatz adds another chapter to the venue’s long history. Originally built as a dancehall in elegant Art Nouveau style, the theatre survived two world wars and remains a key part of Cologne’s cultural landscape.
The producers of Himmel und Kölle wanted audiences to feel immersed in the world of the story from the moment they entered the foyer of the Volksbühne. To achieve this, the production company commissioned, from Berlin-based comic book artist Fufu Frauenwahl, a series of vibrant illustrations depicting a whirlwind tour of Cologne for the gallery-style environment.
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al-media was responsible for bringing this vision to life, with a creative concept centred on LED screens arranged as vertical pillars, guiding audiences from the real city outside into the foyer area. The installation needed to enhance anticipation for the show while remaining sensitive to the historic setting.
Despite the challenges posed by the building’s architecture and a very compressed schedule, the project was delivered smoothly. The fast installation was made possible by the local availability of INFiLED LED screens and the support of a German-speaking technical team.
From the start of creative development in August 2025 to the show’s premiere in October, the al-media team had just three months to design, source, install and test the system. Installation and testing could only take place during the performance season, with minimal disruption to daily theatre operations and with the requirement that everything be removable without leaving any trace.
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The age and structure of the building added further complexity, as uneven walls affected cable routing and management and ruled out the use of fixed substructures. The LED screens also needed to deliver excellent image quality at close viewing distances, allow precise synchronisation of content throughout the foyer and operate reliably during daily performances.
INFiLED supported the project by providing its LED technology with immediate availability, as well as essential hands-on local support. A key factor for al-media was the availability of INFiLED’s WP Series — stocked in its European logistics hub in Rotterdam — which removed long lead times and allowed the project to progress without delay.
In total, almost 70 square metres of LED screens were installed, using 331 cabinets configured as vertical pillars throughout the foyer. Each cabinet featured an ultra-slim depth of 29.5 mm, enabling installation against uneven walls without bulky substructures.
The light weight of the aluminium cabinets, weighing 5.2 kg each, reduced the load, while the WP Series’ 1.56 mm pixel pitch ensured sharp imagery for close-up viewing. Its wide 160° viewing angle additionally delivered consistent colour and brightness from all perspectives, and the modular, front-serviceable design simplifies maintenance tasks. The LED system’s adjustable brightness and calibrated colour also allowed it to integrate effectively with the existing indoor lighting.
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The foyer installation has become an integral part of the Himmel und Kölle experience, enhancing the evening for the thousands of theatre-goers who have attended the show’s current run. For al-media, the project highlighted the importance of the fast delivery, dependable performance and responsive local support offered by INFiLED, as well as by its German-speaking support and technical teams.
We’re very happy with INFiLED’s support; the short delivery time in particular convinced us. We are certain that choosing INFiLED was a better value and better option overall than any alternatives, says André Lyrmann, CEO of al-media.
Himmel und Kölle premiered on 29 October 2020 at the Volksbühne at Rudolfplatz and was seen by more than 100,000 people before wrapping up its original run in spring 2024. Due to popular demand, it returned to the stage in autumn 2025.
Photo credits: al-media
