Hofberg open-air theater Schiltberg
The Hofberg open-air theater Schiltberg is located on the site of a disused castle stable in the community of Schiltberg in the Swabian district of Aichach-Friedberg . Open-air performances have been taking place there since 1953; In 1954, the "Hofberg-Spielgemeinschaft" set up an open-air theater there.
Stage system
Festival ground (before 1954)
One heard of an intended open-air performance in Schiltberg for the first time on November 16, 1952. Georg Eberl (1902–1969), born and raised in Schiltberg, married since 1926, lives and works in Munich, was the initiator. He chose the annual general meeting of the Schiltberg Warrior and Soldier Association as a forum.
The company should have been supported by the warrior comradeship. However, she quickly withdrew her spontaneous acceptance. On December 7, 1952, on the initiative of the mayor, a 15-person festival committee was founded at a meeting of interested parties, which was supposed to tackle the matter under the leadership of Alois Eberl, brother of the author and later the association's board member. The first meeting took place on Boxing Day.
In mid-March 1953, a final agreement was reached on the space for the spectators in an unspecified area, and at the beginning of June one speaks of the festival meadow. Only in the premiere report on June 27, 1953 is the location on the Hofberg and a natural scenario embraced by the forest. The later striking stage structures were still missing, only a low brick retaining wall was present. The property belonged to the Schiltberg farmer and innkeeper Xaver Lechner.
The ownership structure has remained unchanged to this day.
The "Hofberg-Spielgemeinschaft", the term first appeared in January 1954 on a form from the Aichach tax office, celebrated a triumphant success in 1953 with its " Hans von Schiltberg ". Instead of the three planned performances, there were twelve (Eberl note). A second independent item on the program also contributed to the overall success, the parade through the town with mounted people and carriages. Hans Lutterschmid was responsible for its organization. Parade, rally and Hofbergspiel ran under the umbrella term Heimatfest.
After Hans von Schiltberg (1953, reprises 1959 and 1968, new production 1983), Georg Eberl wrote the following further plays for his Hofberg stage: "Ludwig the Bavarian" (1954, new 1980 and 1981), "Otto von Wittelsbach" (1955, new 1985) ), "Matthias Kneißl" (Saaltheater, 1955), "Sankt Alto" (1956), the passion play "The Galileans" (1960, new 1970) and the singspiel "Der Freischu" (1961). The pieces were not all equally successful, Eberl was not spared disappointments.
After his death (1969), other authors looked for the first time. The choice fell in 1971 on Hugo von Hofmannsthal and his " Jedermann ", the following year on Maximilian Vitus and the folk piece "St. Pauli in St. Peter ”.
Open-air theater (from 1954)
In 1954, the festival area was transformed into an open-air stage with a semicircular shell tower on the right-hand side of the stage and through improvements to the forecourt and auditorium. In 1955 another brick tower mock-up was added to the left. The hurricane of July 16, 1958 devastated the mountain forest and caused the right tower to collapse. The reconstruction took place in time for the 1959 season.
Small and large improvements were made to the grandstand, especially for 1968. The various stages of construction of the lighting tower from the wooden scaffolding to the metal pulpit to the massive structure deserve a separate consideration (1996).
The Bühnenburg received its current appearance as a completely new building from September 3, 1977 to June 14, 1980. During this period alone, association members worked 10,426 voluntary and unpaid hours on the construction site.
On the day of the inauguration (June 17, 1980) and on the evening of the premiere (June 29, 1980) the crenellated castle building, the defense tower, the shield wall, the castle chapel and the three paved play terraces offered the festival guests an impressive sight. The visitors have taken their seats on one of the 1000 bucket seats in the new grandstand. Behind them another building with kiosks, toilets and a lighted pulpit. Downhill an asphalt staircase, in the access area on the property of the mountain miller the ticket booth. The cloakroom with the lounge area for the actors is covered by the majestic oaks in the background on the left.
To this day, the stage is constantly being developed and new construction work is being carried out again and again, most of which are carried out by the club members themselves, for example the cloakroom was expanded by a whole floor (2019) to offer the actors more space.
geography
location
The Schiltberger Hofberg is located approx. 10 km east of the district town of Aichach in the delightful forest and hilly landscape of the Wittelsbacher Land .
Plays
Hans von Schiltberg: 1953, 1959, 1968, 1983
Ludwig the Bavarian: 1954, 1980, 1981
Count Palatine Otto von Wittelsbach: 1955, 1985
St. Alto: 1956
The Galileans: 1960, 1970
The free shot: 1961
Everyone : 1971, 2009
The Wittelsbach sword: 1988
Meier Helmbrecht : 1991
Wilhelm Tell : 1994
Götz von Berlichingen : 1997
The Robbers : 2000
Romeo & Juliet : 2003
The Merchant of Venice : 2006
Much Ado About Nothing : 2012
The Merry Wives of Windsor : 2015
Robin Hood: 2018
Hofberg Youth
The association has its own youth department to encourage young talent for the theater. The main activities of the youth include the annual horse-ridden game of Saint Martin, the organization of the holiday program and excursions that are specially tailored to the children and young people.
Hofbergritter
The Hofbergritter developed due to the historical importance of the stage location and the Marschalken von Schiltberg .
From 1980 onwards there were individual duels in the knight shows. They were continuously expanded and perfected and finally became independent from 1987 as a knight tournament. The locations in 1987 were Regensburg and other guest venues on the Bavarian and Upper Austrian Danube. Augsburg, East Tyrol and Lower Austria saw minor skirmishes. The triumphs in Altomünster, Schwertberg, Berching, Pöttmes, Inchenhofen and Aichach followed. The guests of the "Medieval Market Days" can always be prepared for exciting blows and stings. The warriors step into the tournament gates with swords and bi-handed, with ax and morning star, as stick fighters and archers.
Today's fight scenes are performed in tournament mode or packed into a short play.
In the winter months, the knights always organize a winter hike. This begins on Friday with the arrival of the knights on the Hofberg, where they also spend the night in the castle buildings. After a morning refreshment on Saturday, you can hike all day in any weather and in medieval clothing in the vicinity.
Candle drawing
In the run-up to Christmas, the association offers the opportunity to make candles inside the heated castle building. The candle wicks are dipped in paraffin or beeswax until the candle has reached the desired thickness. The offer is aimed at private individuals as well as groups such as kindergartens, schools and clubs.
Partnerships
Partnership with Schwertberg
Another focus of the Schiltberger Theaterverein since 1980 has been regular encounters with theater colleagues from the partner community of Markt Schwertberg , located in the Perg district near Linz in Upper Austria . Not only do the Aiser open-air theater, the Windegg castle ruins and the historic ship Agnes von Feldsberg offer three tried-and-tested spaces for activities and experiences, there are even joint programs in Austria and Bavaria on various occasions. An undisputed high point in 1987 was the historic boat trip from Regensburg to Au / Danube near Schwertberg. Around ten Hofbergers are in good physical shape as members of the Schwertberg Windegg working group. You have been working one day a year for two decades and help with the partial reconstruction of the Windegg castle ruins. In August 2002, the market town on the Aist was particularly hard hit by the flood disaster. Six Hofberg members each drove twice to Schwertberg to combat damage.
The friendship between Hofberg and Aiser gave birth to the official Schiltberg / Schwertberg partnership, which was sealed on September 6, 1987 by the respective mayors and the two association chairmen. The Hofberg regularly advertises a bus trip to Schwertberg for the club and community. The program includes the obligatory theater evening on the Aiser and visits on site or on the itinerary.
Cultural partnership with Berching
Berching has had a cultural partnership with the open-air theater in Schiltberg since 1992. Because of the European festival week for the inauguration of the new Main-Danube Canal, the Schiltbergers came to Berching for the first time. The Schiltbergers also performed in 1996 (700 years of Oppidum Berching), 2003 (Berchinger Kulturtage) and 2004 (Europatage Berching). In addition, the Schiltbergers often came to Berching on club outings and city excursions.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ stage system. Retrieved May 6, 2020 .
- ↑ THEATER. Retrieved May 5, 2020 .
- ↑ Schiltberg. In: Aiserbühne. October 17, 2017, accessed on May 6, 2020 (German).
- ↑ Community partnership with the Aiser open-air theater in Schwertberg / Upper Austria. Retrieved May 5, 2020 .
- ^ Sister cities - City of Berching. Retrieved May 7, 2020 .