As the next event in this year’s THEATERSOMMER Idar-Oberstein, the Chawwerusch Theater will present Heinrich von Kleist’s masterpiece “Der zerbrochne Krug” on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at Oberstein Castle. This comedy for three actors will be performed in a contemporary Chawwerusch adaptation against the stunning backdrop of Oberstein Castle, telling the comical yet profound story of the darkest day in the life of village judge Adam. In the morning, he wakes up with a headache, his wig is nowhere to be found, and to make matters worse, he must navigate an extremely delicate court case—all under the strict supervision of the city’s judicial authorities, who have come to put him through his paces.
It’s not a good day for Marthe, the widow, either. Until yesterday, her little world was still in order: she lived in her own house with her daughter, who was already engaged, and her family heirloom, the jug, stood intact on the windowsill. But suddenly, everything has been thrown into disarray: Her daughter Eve was seen in the garden late in the evening with her fiancé Ruprecht. Shortly afterward, the jug was broken—reason enough for Marthe to take the matter to court. The old village judge, Adam, is tasked with restoring everything: the truth of the matter, compensation for the damage caused—and, not least, the honor of her daughter Eve.
It is a seemingly idyllic world that is falling apart here: In this remote village, the traditional rules of village justice have always prevailed. The same old rituals and customs provided stability and security. But with the strange behavior of Village Judge Adam—his constant vacillation and his attempts to keep the true facts shrouded in mystery—it is not only the jug that ends up in shards, but also trust in the judicial system.
And yet “The Broken Jug” remains a comedy, because the intricately crafted plot and Kleist’s verbal wit constantly give rise to hilarious situations: Judge Adam becomes increasingly entangled in his own excuses and web of lies. Time and again, the audience expects him to be unmasked. But time and again, he wriggles his way out of the noose with authority and sophistry. Until, in the end, he sees only one way out and grasps at a last straw: “I hereby move that the court be authorized to assume that the devil broke the jug.”
Other events:
- “SOS 1928! – Men Who Dream of Flying,” featuring the Mienenspiel theater group and the Kantorei Obere Nahe choir, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., at the Messe Idar-Oberstein.
- “Felsenkirche 1926,” presented by the Heimspiel theater group in cooperation with the Kunstverein Obere Nahe, Friday through Sunday, September 4–6 and 11–13, 2026, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 6:00 p.m. at the Felsenkirche in Idar-Oberstein.
- THEATERSOMMER is an event organized by the City of Idar-Oberstein. It is supported by Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld, Effgen Schleiftechnik, OIE AG, the Bürkle Foundation, and the Ministry of Family, Women, Culture, and Integration. All information is available at www.idar-oberstein.de/kultur; tickets can be purchased at www.ticket-regional.de and at participating ticket outlets. 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.