This year’s THEATERSOMMER Idar-Oberstein presents four regional productions, and the Chawwerusch Theater will perform the classic play “Der zerbrochene Krug” at Oberstein Castle. Mayor Frank Frühauf, Cultural Affairs Officer Annette Strohm, and representatives of the regional partners recently presented the plays at a press conference held at the OIE AG offices.
OIE Board Member Thomas Johann welcomed the guests and explained that, as “someone with a passion for culture, he is always thrilled by the diversity of the program and is looking forward to this year’s performances. As an energy provider, OIE has deep regional roots and is pleased to be able to contribute as a sponsor to bringing people together through culture,” Johann continued.
Mayor Frank Frühauf is once again looking forward to this year’s exceptional program and the excellent collaboration with regional partners. He also thanked Annette Strohm and her team for the outstanding work the Cultural Affairs Office consistently delivers. “They bring all the individual facets together and turn them into a gem,” said Frühauf, expressing his enthusiasm for the events taking place as part of THEATERSOMMER. The mayor also thanked the sponsors—in addition to the OIE, these include the Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld, the Effgen company, the Bürkle Foundation, and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate—for their long-standing support of the festival. “Our citizens and visitors from out of town also benefit from this partnership, because without this support, we wouldn’t be able to put on this festival.” Annette Strohm, the city’s cultural affairs officer, is thrilled that, in keeping with this year’s Kultursommer theme, “The Golden Twenties,” three productions by outstanding regional artists can be presented.
She then provided further details about the upcoming events in this year’s THEATERSOMMER. On Sunday, August 23, 2026, the Chawwerusch Theater will stage a contemporary adaptation of Heinrich Kleist’s classic “The Broken Jug” at Oberstein Castle. A play for three actors that ingeniously combines wordplay, suspense, and social commentary. At the center of the story is Village Judge Adam, who, of all things, is tasked with presiding over a case involving a broken jug—and in the process increasingly finds himself under suspicion. As he becomes increasingly entangled in excuses and lies, not only the truth but also trust in the judicial system begins to waver. With sharp humor and timeless relevance, Kleist explores the abuse of power, responsibility, and the quest for justice.
On Sunday, August 30, 2026, the Idar-Oberstein Exhibition Center will host “ SOS 1928! – Men Who Dream of Flying,” a fascinating live radio play by the Mienenspiel theater group and the Plus Obere Nahe Chamber Choir, accompanied by impressive live music. At the press conference, Roland Lißmann, who is serving as musical director, and Lukas Herzog, who is responsible for technical direction, will discuss their collaboration on the production. 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 collaboration with the Kunstverein Obere Nahe, will take the stage at the church. Claudia Stump is directing the play; the script was written by Jörg Staiber, and the music is by Mikk Schunke. Together, they explained the idea behind the play at the press conference. Oberstein’s landmark was in danger of collapsing in the foreseeable future, and it is only thanks to the courageous actions of Walther Dörr, the then-district president of Oldenburg and a native of Idar, that the Felsenkirche was preserved. Dörr tirelessly raised funds for the church’s renovation and the restoration of the precious altarpiece. Audiences will be transported exactly one 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 blends the city’s gripping history with the spirit of the 1920s.
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, the Theaterkiste, consisting of local artists Loraine Iff and Kathy Becker, will perform the play “Habenichts & Tunichtgut” by Frank Puchalla in the Göttenbach Auditorium. 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 anticipates her every wish. But—oh, the horror!—one day the gold is gone. And so it’s 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 focus 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-and-film evening. At the press conference, Kathrin Isabelle Klein promises that experiencing the silent film from the 1920s accompanied by modern live music will be a special experience. "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.
Everyone involved agreed on one thing: this year's THEATERSOMMER will also be a special experience for all culture lovers.
- More information about the plays can be found at www.idar-oberstein.de/kultur. Tickets are available at www.ticket-regional.de and at the affiliated ticket agencies.