§ 1 Field of Application

 

1.1 The General Terms and Conditions regulate the legal relationships between Niedersächsisches Staatstheater Hannover GmbH (named “the theatre” hereinafter) and its individual customers, resellers, corporate and group customers (named “visitors” hereinafter). For all legal transactions between the theatre and its visitors, the following General Terms and Conditions (named “GTC” hereinafter) apply exclusively in their currently valid version. The theatre does not admit any deviating terms and conditions unless it has expressly agreed to their validity.

1.2 Purchasing a theatre ticket or concluding a subscription contract amounts to an agreement on these terms. In the case of subscribers, ancillary subscription conditions apply.

1.3 Resellers commit themselves to making the following GCT known to every customer on purchase of tickets.

 

§ 2 Ticket Prices and Concessions

 

2.1 All performances are allocated to various price categories which are announced in the theatre’s publications and online. The available prices, concessions and fees can be found in the annual programme brochure, the monthly programme brochure, on the internet and/or on notices displayed at the box office.

2.2 Concessions are granted by the theatre depending on the respective series of performances. Information about concessions for each respective performance can be requested from the box office or obtained by phone from the theatre’s ticket service staff. The theatre reserves the right to not grant concessions for certain performances.

2.3. The theatre will request to see a document verifying visitors’ eligibility for all reduced-price tickets before admission to the auditorium. The eligibility must be valid on the day of the performance. Concessions must be verified by a piece of photo ID presented to the front-of-house staff. If this verification cannot be made, the difference to the regular ticket price must be paid before entering the auditorium. Otherwise, admission cannot be granted.

2.4. A single ticket cannot be granted several concessions at once.

2.5 Once the booking process has been concluded, concessions can no longer be considered.

2.6 In accordance with the printed information on the ticket, the ticket price includes the right to use the theatre ticket as a transportation ticket on local public transport (GVH). The ticket is valid on the day of the performance throughout the GVH-region from 3 hours before the performance until 05:00h of the following day and is not transferrable. Whether visitors make use of this service or not is irrelevant. The use of the theatre ticket as a transportation ticket is subject to a separate contract between the visitor and the transportation carrier, which is regulated by the terms and conditions of the transportation companies belonging to the GVH. The same applies to tickets that have been purchased online in accordance with 3.7, except for the qualification that these tickets must be personalised for users during the purchasing process, stating the name of each user.

2.7 It is not permitted to take a different seat from the one designated on the ticket. Should a visitor change their seat without authorisation, the difference to the price of the new seat may be charged, or the visitor may be removed from this seat or from the performance.

 

§ 3 Contract Conclusion / Ticket Purchase / Postal Shipping

 

3.1 The ticket sale between the theatre and the visitors is achieved by the visitors’ order (offer) and its confirmation by the theatre (acceptance). Tickets can be purchased at the box office, affiliated ticket outlets or in writing, by phone or in our web-shop. If the order occurs in writing, by phone or via the internet, visitors will receive a client or order number as confirmation. This number will be made known to them verbally, by phone or in writing (by e-mail if the purchase is made via the internet).

3.2 Visitors acquire tickets in their own name and on their own account. Should the visitor resell tickets, a representation of the theatre is automatically excluded. Reselling tickets for a higher price or a different price than the one designated by the theatre is not permitted. In the case of violation of this condition, the theatre can demand to receive the surplus profit. Commercial resales require separate approval by the theatre. Anonymous resales are not permitted.

3.3 Should visitors wish their tickets to be sent by post, the theatre will charge a processing fee that includes shipping costs. The tickets will be sent to the visitors upon receipt of full payment, at their own risk. Visitors are required to check the accuracy and completeness (especially regarding the event, date, time, price and number of tickets); complaints must be submitted to the theatre in writing immediately.

3.4 Paid-for tickets can be deposited at the evening box office for a fee at the visitors’ request. If the tickets are not collected, there is no claim to compensation or reimbursement of the ticket price.

3.5. If visitors have been granted an option to purchase tickets (reservation), this option will expire without substitution if it is not used within the agreed reservation period.

3.6 Tickets lose their validity when visitors leave the venue.

3.7 Ticketdirect (online tickets) may be presented either as a paper print-out or on a smart phone. Duplication or alteration is not permitted. Should any copies of this Ticketdirect-ticket emerge, only the holder who appears at the entrance first will be admitted to the event. Furthermore, the theatre reserves the right to demand payment of the full value of duplicated Ticketdirect-tickets from the ticket buyer whose ticket was duplicated through his or her own fault. The theatre does not accept liability for loss and/or misuse of the Ticketdirect.

3.8. The opening hours of the theatre’s box office can be found in the theatre’s publications. The evening box office opens one hour before the beginning of a performance. There are strictly no advance ticket sales for other events at the evening box office.

 

§ 4 Vouchers and Special Offers

 

4.1 Vouchers (including gift vouchers) are valid for three years from their date of purchase or issue. Once the period of validity has expired, the voucher’s owners lose any claim to redeeming them. Exchanging the voucher against for money is impossible.

4.2 The theatre reserves the right to provide further special offers.

 

§ 5 Due Date and Payment / Retention of Title / Default

 

5.1 Payment of the purchase price is due on confirmation of the booking and allocation of an individual client and order number. Payment may be made in cash, as SEPA-debit, bank transfer, PayPal or by credit card.

5.2. Until payment is complete, tickets remain the property of the theatre. Should a payment be re-debited, the visitor is bound to return the tickets immediately and to reimburse the expenses resulting from the re-debiting procedure.

5.3 Reserved tickets that are not paid in due time will be returned to general sales after the payment period has expired.

5.4 In the case of default of payment, the theatre is entitled to charge an appropriate fee for the first and all further reminders of payment. Furthermore, the theatre is entitled to demand payment of interest in the amount of 5% p.a. above the current base interest rate of the German Central Bank, unless the theatre can prove a charge that is higher or the visitor can prove a charge that is lower than this interest rate. This does not exclude a claim to further damages.

 

§ 6 Returning and Exchanging Tickets / Loss of Tickets

 

6.1 Returning or exchanging tickets is basically ruled out. This is also the case when the theatre has to change the announced cast of performers on short notice for compelling reasons.

6.2 In the case of programme changes, tickets can exclusively be returned up until the day of the performance, otherwise all claims expire. Tickets that have not been purchased at the theatre’s box office can only be returned to the respective external ticket outlet. Any travel or accommodation expenses will not be reimbursed. Visitors will be reimbursed for the whole ticket price as long as the original tickets (copies not allowed) have been presented to the theatre. The visitor will receive a refund of the full ticket price as a voucher.

6.3. In the case of cancellation of a performance, the theatre will offer visitors an exchange for an equivalent ticket for a different performance of their choice within the same series of events or will reimburse visitors with a voucher. Further claims made by the visitors (e.g. for travel and accommodation expenses) are ruled out. Should the performance be cancelled due to force majeure (strike, national mourning, blackout, natural disaster etc.), no compensation will be granted.

6.4 Should a performance be discontinued, ticket prices will only be refunded if the performance had not yet reached the end of the first half. Claims for reimbursement must be presented to the theatre within five working days after the discontinued performance.

6.5 Reimbursement or replacement of lost tickets, vouchers, exchange vouchers or flex subscription vouchers is generally ruled out. This also applies to subscription vouchers that have not been exchanged in due time.

6.6 Depending on the conditions of the performance, visibility of surtitles may be limited or impossible from some seats. There can be no claim to compensation for loss of surtitle visibility. The same applies to limited visibility of the stage or set.

6.7 All refunds of advance booking fees or any other fee are the responsibility of the respective reseller.

6.8 Please take note that exchange or reimbursement of streaming tickets is not possible. You are obliged to provide the technical (e.g. electricity supply, internet connection, installations) and other (e.g. legal) requirements or to make sure that they are in place. For more details about technical requirements please see the up-to-date FAQ on our website. Your obligation to pay remains intact even if you do not comply with these duties.

 

§ 7 Beginning of Performances / Admission

 

7.1 The theatre is generally opened one hour before the beginning of the performance.

7.2 Out of consideration for the artists and the other visitors, once a performance has begun, visitors can only be admitted into the auditorium at a suitable interval. There is no legal claim to late admission.

7.3 There is only a limited amount of places for wheelchair users. They are only entitled to a barrier-free place if they have stated their need for such a place while purchasing their ticket.

7.4 As a rule, the theatre’s events have been approved for children from the age of 6. Deviations from this rule for individual productions will be announced separately.

 

§ 8 Sound and Film Recordings / Photography

 

8.1 For copyright reasons, sound and film recordings as well as taking photographs is strictly prohibited at all venues. Violations are liable to prosecution according to copyright law.

8.2. In case of violation, the theatre’s staff is entitled to confiscate smart phones, recording devices and cameras and to retain them until the end of the performance. Films and recording material of any kind that have recorded parts of the performance may be confiscated and stored by the theatre. They will be handed over to their owners once the latter have agreed to the deletion of these recordings.

8.3 On purchasing tickets, visitors agree to the fact that the theatre makes sound and film recordings and takes photographs during the course of the event and that the theatre duplicates and publishes these with no limitations on time and location. This agreement expressly includes a waiver of any claim to remuneration.

 

§ 9 Householders’ Rights / House Rules

 

9.1 Within the theatre’s premises, householders’ rights lie with the Artistic Directors and the Administrative Director. Front-of-house staff, box office and sales staff as well as other authorised persons are also entitled to exercise these rights. Their instructions are to be followed.

9.2 Visitors may be removed from an ongoing performance if they are found to be disrupting the performance or harassing other theatre visitors. They can also be denied admission if there is reason to anticipate such behaviour. In addition, the theatre is entitled to issue a house ban against such persons. Ticket prices will not be reimbursed in such cases.

9.3 Items that could disrupt the performance (e.g. smart phones and other electronic devices) must be switched off. For safety purposes, bulky objects (bags, backpacks, booster seats etc.) may not be taken into the auditorium. A limited number of booster cushions are available at the cloakrooms.

9.4 Smoking is prohibited in all publicly accessible premises of the theatre. Otherwise, the regulations of Lower Saxony’s law for the protection of non-smokers apply in its current version.

9.5 It is not permitted to bring food and drinks to the theatre’s premises. Equally, the consumption of food and drink inside the auditorium is not permitted.

9.6 It is not permitted to bring animals into the theatre, with the exception of companion and guide dogs. Companion and guide dogs must stay next to a suitable seat in the stalls, of which there is a limited number. The dog must be insured against liabilities and must have undergone a character assessment as well as the VDH-examination for companion dogs. Bringing these animals must be discussed when the ticket is purchased.

 

§ 10 Cloakroom

 

10.1 Ticket prices include a cloakroom fee of 1.15 €. This sum is the result of a mixed calculation for all venues and all seasons of the year.

10.2 Coats, umbrellas, canes, large bags and similar items must be stored at the cloakroom unless cloakroom lockers are available. The cloakroom staff is entitled to refuse acceptance of particularly valuable items.

10.3 Should stored items be lost or damaged, the theatre only accepts liability if the cloakroom staff has intentionally neglected their storage obligations or is guilty of gross negligence. Liability is limited to the present value or a maximum of 5,000 € for all items stored against the issue of a cloakroom token. The following items are excluded from liability: musical instruments, identification documents or certificates of all kinds, credit cards, cash, keys and valuables like jewellery, electronic devices etc., especially if the items are kept in coat pockets or containers. Storage of these items occurs at the visitors’ own risk.

10.4 Cloakroom staff must be immediately informed of loss or damage to a stored item as well as the loss of a cloakroom token. Without a cloakroom token, stored items may only be handed over if it can be proved to reasonable satisfaction that the person making the request is in fact the entitled owner, and only after all other visitors have collected their stored items. Should a cloakroom token be lost, the theatre is entitled to demand an adequate sum of money.

 

§ 11 Lost Property

 

All items found on the theatre’s premises are to be handed over to the front-of-house staff or the cloakroom staff. They will be stored at the theatre’s lost property office.

 

§ 12 Liability / Damages

 

12.1 The theatre does not accept any liability for property damage or personal injury of any kind as long as the theatre, its legal representative or its vicarious agents have not acted intentionally or with gross negligence.

12.2 Claims for damages of visitors as the result of positive breach of obligations, of default during the conclusion of contracts or unlawful actions are excluded as far as the theatre, its legal representation or its vicarious agents have not acted intentionally or with gross negligence and no essential contractual obligations have been injured.

12.3 Damage claims resulting from the impossibility of a service and delay or from the violation against essential contractual obligations are limited to the reimbursement of predictable damages in cases of slight negligence.

12.4 The theatre is not liable for external services (e.g. catering services) and damages resulting from these services. Liability lies directly with the respective provider of these services.

 

§ 13 Data Protection

 

The theatre is entitled to process, store and use visitors’ data that has been obtained in connection with their mutual business relationship in accordance with the German general data protection regulation. In this context, we would like to refer to our data protection statement on our website.

 

§ 14 Applicable Law/ Place of Execution and Place of Jurisdiction / Saving Clause

 

14.1 German law shall apply.

14.2 The place of execution and jurisdiction of all claims that result from business relations between the theatre and visitors is Hanover, provided that the visitor is a registered trader, a corporate body under public law or a public separate estate.

14.3. Should individual regulations of these GTC be or become void, this shall not affect the validity of the other regulations. Invalid regulations are replaced by existing regulations that are customary in this industry. Should there be no admissible customary regulation, it shall be replaced by the respective legal regulation.

 

§ 15 Commencement

 

These GTC will come into effect after being announced on 31 May 2023 and replace the previously valid regulations.

Hanover, May 2023
The Management

 

Subscription Terms

 

In addition to the General Terms of Use of Niedersächsisches Staatstheater Hannover GmbH (named “the theatre” hereinafter), on acquisition of a subscription or the renewal of an existing subscription, the following terms are regarded as understood between the subscriber and the theatre:

 

I. General Subscription Terms

 

§ 1 Design of Subscriptions

 

1.1 The various available various subscriptions and their specific terms (prices, dates, performances included etc.) will be announced in the theatre’s general publications.

1.2 The Youth Subscription (“Jugend-Abo”) applies to students of schools and universities as well as apprentices up until the completion of their 29th year of age. The respective verifying documents are to be presented at the completion of their subscription contract and once their term of validity has expired, new documents are to be presented without further request. Failing this, the regular price of the subscription will be invoiced. Premiere Subscriptions (“Premieren-Abo”) cannot be acquired in the form of a Youth Subscription.

 

§ 2 Contract Conclusion / Contract Renewal / Contract Amendment

 

2.1 The subscription contract is concluded between the theatre and the subscriber in writing. This excludes the conclusion of a subscription for another third person. The subscription is a binding agreement for one entire season. A season is the period between September of one year and July of the following year.   

2.2 Subscription passes can be transferred to other persons. This does not apply to the Youth Subscription (“Jugend-Abo”). In case of a reduced-price fixed subscription, visitors must fulfil the same concession claim and are asked to present a document to prove this claim to the admission staff. If visitors are unable to provide this documentation, they will be asked to make an additional payment at the box office.  

2.3 The subscription is automatically extended for the following season unless it is cancelled in writing by 31 May of the respective year. Subscriptions that were concluded from March 01, 2022 and last longer than two years can be terminated at any time with one month's notice. For contracts concluded before March 1, 2022, the previous notice periods of the subscription contract apply.

2.4 Requests for a change of seating within an existing subscription can only be considered for the following season if the subscription and ticket service has been informed of this request in written form by 31 May of the year in question.

2.5 Amendments to the Subscription Terms will be announced at a time that allows subscribers to cancel their subscription in due time. If no cancellation occurs, the amended subscription terms are considered to have been acknowledged.

 

§ 3 Payment

 

3.1 Full payment for the agreed subscription is due no later than two weeks after receipt of the subscription invoice. Should instalment payments have been agreed on (only possible when payment is made by SEPA-debit), the first instalment is due two weeks after receipt of the invoice and the second instalment is due on 31 January of the current season.

3.2 In this subscription contract, subscribers can choose between the usual payment options of cash payment, SEPA-debit or payment by credit card and Paypal when purchasing their subscription. The chosen payment option is binding. When an existing subscription is extended, open payments must be settled by bank transfer or SEPA-debit. The theatre reserves the right to exclude subscribers from individual payment methods.

 

§ 4 Client Data

 

The theatre should be notified of changes in clients’ data, such as address, phone number, e-mail address or bank details, in writing. The theatre assumes no liability for possible difficulties or additional expenses that were caused by delayed notification of changes.

 

§ 5 Loyalty Offers

 

In addition to their subscriptions, subscribers are entitled to purchase more reduced-price tickets, as long as these reduced-price tickets are available for the desired performance. Presentation of the valid verifying subscription document entitles the subscriber to purchase the reduced-price tickets. In the case of Flex Subscriptions (“Wahl-Abo”), the amount of additional vouchers depends on the number of Flex Subscription vouchers - additional vouchers are issued for half the number of subscription vouchers. The additional vouchers are valid for the duration of the relevant season (until July 31 of each year).

 

§ 6 Programme Changes / Seating Changes

 

Changes of programming at short notice may require a change of subscription days. Furthermore, the theatre reserves the right to offer an equivalent substitute seat if the rented seat is unavailable for artistic, technical or organisation-related reasons. In both cases, subscribers will be informed as soon as possible and have the option of exchanging their tickets to tickets for a different performance free of charge.

 

§ 7 Recruitment of New Subscribers

 

Recruiters of a new subscriber will receive a bonus within an advertised period of time. The persons recruiting must themselves be subscribers of the theatre. A bonus cannot be granted if the recruitment occurs in connection with a cancellation or if the new subscriber or a person living in the same household was a subscriber of Staatstheater Hannover during the previous season. Bonuses can also not be granted for self-bookings, the recruitment of a new subscriber living in the same household, or package-offers.

 

II. Special Subscription Terms

 

§ 8 Flex Subscription (“Wahlabo“)

 

8.1 The flex subscription vouchers and additional vouchers, which can also be transferred to other persons, are only valid for the season in which they were issued by the theater. Transfer to the following season is not possible.

8.2 Subscribers can redeem their vouchers at the theatre’s box offices, by phone or online, subject to ticket availability for the desired performance.

8.3 Should the subscribers switch to a different seating category than stated on the voucher or redeem their vouchers for premieres, performances on Christmas holidays or other performances with increased ticket prices, the price difference will be settled subsequently.

 

9.1 Fixed Seats

 A subscription for a fixed seat can be purchased for premieres and/or repertory performances.

The subscription pass is regarded as the ticket for the performances stated on it. Therefore, subscribers are advised to keep it in a safe place and to present it to the front of house-staff before the performance. Should the pass be lost, a new pass can be issued for a processing fee of 5.50 €.

9.2. Exchange of Subscription Performances

An exchange of a performance specified in the subscription card is always possible at the advance ticket office or in the webshop and not by telephone or in writing. For this purpose, the subscription card or ticket(s) must be presented to the ticket office by 12:00 noon on the day before the performance. If the day of the performance falls on a Sunday or public holiday, the subscription card must be presented by 12:00 noon on the preceding working day at the latest. On presentation of the subscription card and correction of the relevant performance dates or ticket(s), the subscriber will receive an exchange voucher. This voucher can only be redeemed for tickets during the current season.

When exchanging the performance, the theater charges an exchange fee of 5 € per ticket.

 

TheatreCard Terms

 

In addition to the General Terms and Conditions of Niedersächsisches Staatstheater Hannover GmbH (named “the theatre” hereinafter), upon purchase of a TheatreCard or the extension of an existing TheatreCard, the following terms are regarded as agreed upon:

 

§ 1 TheatreCard 50 and 25

 

1.1 All TheatreCards are personalised and not transferrable to other persons.

1.2 TheaterCards 50 and 25 are discount tickets. The TheaterCards are subject to a fee and entitle the holder to purchase up to two discounted tickets per performance (50: 50% discount; 25: 25% discount) for his/her own use and for an accompanying person of his/her choice. Admission is only possible if the Theatercard holder is present in person. The accompanying person may vary. They are valid for twelve months from the date of purchase and are extended for a further year if they are not cancelled in writing 4 weeks before expiry. Special events and guest performances may be excluded from the discount.

1.3 A combination of TheatreCards 50 or 25 with other concessions such as subscriptions or discounts is not possible. TheatreCards are not valid for special events (e.g. New Year’s Eve shows, opera ball, guest performances or guided tours).

1.4 TheatreCards and tickets must be presented to the front of house-staff at the door together with the admission ticket and a photo ID without being asked.

1.5. Should the TheatreCard be lost, a new pass can be issued for a processing fee.

Hanover, May 2023
The Management

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