The Rescue of the Rock Church
The Heimspiel theater group, in cooperation with the Kunstverein Obere Nahe, will perform the play “Felsenkirche 1926” six times at the original venue. From Friday through Sunday, September 4–6 and 11–13, 2026, the landmark of the city of Idar-Oberstein will be transformed into a theater stage, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and on Sundays at 6:00 p.m.
One hundred years ago, the Obersteiner Rock Church was in danger of collapsing in the foreseeable future. Structural assessments had revealed that the outer wall was completely dilapidated; over the centuries, water constantly seeping into the building and the ground had washed the mortar out of the cracks in the wall.
It is thanks to the courageous efforts of Walther Dörr, the then District President of Oldenburg and a native of Idar, that Oberstein’s landmark was preserved. Dörr tirelessly raised funds for the renovation of the church and the restoration of the precious altarpiece, whose significance in art history was only made clear through his dedication. Dörr and the architect he commissioned, Wilhelm Heilig, were largely responsible for giving the church its current appearance and character.
The play “Felsenkirche 1926” not only depicts Dörr’s struggle to preserve the church and the fierce disputes and quarrels that accompanied it, but also takes the audience on a journey through the turbulent town of Oberstein during the “Golden Twenties”—a period that wasn’t always quite so glamorous.
What Really Matters in Life
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 4 p.m., the Theaterkiste will perform Frank Puchalla’s play “Habenichts & Tunichtgut” in the Göttenbach Auditorium. A funny and heartwarming play for everyone ages 6 and up—about money and what really matters in life.
Tunichtgut lives in luxury. Self-satisfied, she sits on a pile of gold and never lifts a finger. That's because she has her servant Habenichts, who reads her every wish from her eyes. But - oh shock - one day the gold is gone. And so the decision is made that Tunichtgut must now learn something. But what? And where? And how?
It has to be quick, not involve any effort and bring in a lot of money, says Tunichtgut. So she pins all her hopes on a dubious experiment by Dr. Dr. Dr. Trichter and on the tempting promises of the money itself. Will Tunichtgut manage to get a new pile of gold? And what does Habenichts have to say?
The Exuberant Spirit of the 1920s
On Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 8:00 p.m., the Ensemble metamorph will present the production “The Roaring Twenties” on stage at the Göttenbach Auditorium. This blend of silent film, revue, and avant-garde art immerses the audience completely in the spirit of that era. The live music will be performed by Kathrin Isabelle Klein on piano, Achim Seyler on drums, and other members of the ensemble.
The 1920s were bursting with innovation and energy. This is vividly illustrated by Ladislav Starewitsch’s fantastic puppet film “The Magic Clock,” which is presented with live accompaniment—just as it was in those days—and the original film score by Paul Dessau, arranged by Mainz-based composer Bernd Thewes. “La revue de cuisine” by Bohuslav Martinů brings the dance music of the variety theater into the concert hall, while Paul Hindemith’s Chamber Music No. 1 caused a full-blown scandal at its premiere—as so much did in the 1920s. The 13-member ensemble has come together for this project in their home cities and brings this exuberant era back to life.
Information and Tickets
For more information about the program, visit www.idar-oberstein.de/theatersommer. Tickets are available in advance at www.ticket-regional.de and at participating ticket outlets. THEATERSOMMER is a festival organized by the City of Idar-Oberstein and sponsored by Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld, Effgen Schleiftechnik, OIE AG, the Bürkle Foundation, and the State of Rhineland-Palatinate.