 It was designed by architect Heinrich Seeling and built from 1905 to 1907.Aerial bombings destroyed much of the original structure in 1942 and 1943, and architects Henry Hansen and Guido Widmann were later brought in to restore the theatre from 1952 to 1953.The first performance of Theater Kiel was Beethoven's "Fidelio" on 1 October 1907.