Holidays » The Passion Play
In 2010 the Passion Play will be performed for the 41st time, maintaining the tradition of this unique world famous event.
In the clutches of war, poverty and plague, the villagers of Oberammergau, Southern Germany, vowed to perform the play every ten years, in the hope of being saved from more death and destruction. That was in 1633, and ever since the villagers have faithfully carried out that pledge.
Only residents of Oberammergau are allowed to take part, and the cast and crew devote a year of their lives to the preparation and re-enactment of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. With pride and devotion they perform the story which gives billions of people hope and strength. The play covers the period of Jesus entering Jerusalem and continues up to his death on the Cross and his resurrection.
The premier of the 2010 play will be on Saturday, 15th May, and it will be staged for a total of 102 days up to four times a week. The new production, under the direction of Christian Stückl and the artistic team of the Passion Play in 2000, the stage designer Stefan Hageneier and the music directors Markus Zwink and Michael Bocklet, reflects the tremendous community achievement. Participants are now rehearsing the newly revised text whilst the orchestra and the choir are studying the glorious music created for the performance by the composer Rochus Dedler.
For the first time, the performance in 2010 will begin in the afternoon with the second part being performed in the evening hours taking in the natural effects of the setting sun on the breath-taking mountain back drop. In the five-hour presentation, with a 3 hour intermission for dinner, over 2000 participants will bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth to the ears and eyes of the audience on the imposing open-air stage of the Passion Play Theatre.