THEATER SUMMER
On Sunday, August 23, 2026, starting at 7:00 p.m., the Chawwerusch Theater will present a contemporary Chawwerusch adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist’s masterpiece, the comedy “The Broken Jug,” high above the city rooftops at Oberstein Castle.
Three actors perform the comical yet dark tale of the darkest day in the life of village judge Adam. He wakes up in the morning with a headache, his wig is nowhere to be found, and to make matters worse, he has to navigate an extremely delicate court case—all under the strict supervision of the city magistrates, who have come to put him to the test.
Due to a lack of parking at the castle, a free shuttle service will be available starting at 6:00 p.m. from the “Schlossstraße” bus stop. In case of inclement weather, the event will take place at the Idar-Oberstein Exhibition Center.
The summer will then be entirely dedicated to the Rhineland-Palatinate Cultural Summer theme, “The Golden Twenties”:
On Sunday, August 30, 2026, the Idar-Oberstein Exhibition Center will feature “SOS 1928! - Men Who Dream of Flying,” will be on the program, featuring a fascinating live radio play by the Mienenspiel theater group and the Plus Obere Nahe Chamber Choir, accompanied by impressive musical performances. This auditory journey transports us back to the year 1928: Mussolini discovers a completely new medium for his propaganda: the radio! But the stories on the airwaves need daring heroes: the opportunistic Captain Nobile and his crew embark on a megalomaniacal venture without further ado—to the North Pole by airship! It quickly becomes clear: Between Madonna and Mussolini, eggnog and polar bears, communists and cannibals, there’s more than just a little turbulence. And yet Nobile is just a small man who dreams of flying… .
On two consecutive weekends— September 4–6 and September 11–13, 2026—the captivating drama “Felsenkirche 1926” by the Heimspiel theater group, in cooperation with the Kunstverein Obere Nahe , will take the stage at the church. Audiences will be transported exactly one century back in time to an era of social upheaval, great aspirations, and existential challenges for this monumental structure. It is a tailor-made event that perfectly blends the city’s gripping history with the spirit of the 1920s.
On September 20, the Theaterkiste will perform Frank Puchalla’s *Habenichts & Tunichtgut *. Tunichtgut lives the high life. Smugly, she sits on a pile of gold and doesn’t lift a finger. After all, that’s what her servant Habenichts is for—she reads her every wish from her eyes. But—oh no!—one day the gold is gone. And so it is decided that Tunichtgut must now learn something. But what? And where? And how? A funny and heartwarming play for everyone ages 6 and up—about money and what really matters in life.
The highlight of this thematic series will be the event “The Roaring Twenties” by the Ensemble metamorph on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in the Göttenbach Auditorium, which will fully immerse the audience in the spirit of the era with a blend of silent film, revue, and avant-garde. Three outstanding works from the 1920s will be presented by Kathrin Isabelle Klein and Achim Seyler—who are returning to their home countries for this project—along with other ensemble members, in a concert-film evening. “The Magic Clock” by Ladislaw Starewitch, a jazz suite from the ballet “La revue de cuisine” by Bohuslav Martinů—which artfully brings the dance music of the 1920s to life in the concert hall—and Paul Hindemith’s Chamber Music, Op. 24 No. 1.
People in need can obtain free tickets for this event through KULTURLOGE Mittlere Nahe. Anyone wishing to take advantage of the Kulturloge’s offerings should contact the Soonwald Foundation directly. info@soonwaldstiftung.de
The city of Idar-Oberstein would like to thank the following sponsors and supporters for their support of the Theatersommer:
