The Württembergische Landesbühne Esslingen (WLB) is one of the region's major theatrical institutions, offering a full repertoire of drama, opera, musicals, and children's theatre from its base in Esslingen. The theatre presents around 200 performances per year in its home venues, supplemented by extensive touring through Baden-Württemberg.
The WLB is particularly known for its accessible programming and its willingness to stage both classical and contemporary work. Tickets are generally cheaper than comparable theatres in Stuttgart. The theatre building itself, a converted factory space near the train station, is worth visiting for its architecture — the industrial bones show through in the exposed steel and brick, and the technical capabilities are surprisingly extensive for a building not originally designed for performance.