THEATER SUMMER
The 2026 Idar-Oberstein Theater Summer will transform the "City of Gems" into a vibrant open-air cultural stage. Under the apt motto “Summer in the City,” the city’s cultural office brings top-notch productions to modern venues or historic settings.
A special event awaits visitors on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 8 p.m. at the Idar-Oberstein Exhibition Center. The renowned Theater Thikwa will be performing the play “Bauchgefühl.” Who wants to have a baby but shouldn’t? And who doesn’t want to have babies but should? In an entertaining prenatal class, performers from Theater Thikwa and the hannsjana collective tackle the big political questions that are directed at their bellies every day. The ensemble stands for excellent, inclusive theater that breaks down mental barriers and elevates art to a completely new, profound level. This intense evening of theater promises to leave a lasting impression and is presented with the kind support of Lebenshilfe. For more information about the play, please see the enclosed flyer.
On Sunday, August 23, 2026, 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.
The summer will then be entirely dedicated to the Rhineland-Palatinate Cultural Summer theme, “The Golden Twenties”:
The program at the Idar-Oberstein Fair on Sunday, August 30, 2026, features “SOS 1928! - Men Who Dream of Flying,” the program features the fascinating live radio play by the group “Mienenspiel,” accompanied by an impressive musical performance by local choirs. 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… .
Over two weekends—from September 4 to 6 and from September 11 to 13, 2026—the gripping drama “Oberstein 1926 – Save the Rock Church!” will take the stage at the church. Audiences will be transported exactly a century back in time to an era of social upheaval, great aspirations, and existential challenges for the monumental structure. It is a tailor-made event that perfectly combines 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” on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in the Göttenbach Auditorium, which will 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 in a concert-film evening by musicians returning to their home countries for this project: "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 Chamber Music, Op. 24 No. 1 by Paul Hindemith.
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:
