Reussisches Waldtheater Heldendank
The Reussian forest theater "Heldendank" was an open-air theater in Gera . It was located in Rothens-Gussgraben above the road from Untermhaus to Milbitz .
history
The founding of the Reussian forest theater "Heldendank" goes back to the initiative of chief postman Karl Weise. In his sideline work as a local poet , actor, director and organizer of a popular amateur theater association, he developed the idea of an open-air theater financed by donations. As a pure welfare company, its earnings were intended exclusively to benefit the war blind as well as needy war survivors and war orphans of the First World War .
After an audience with Heinrich XXVII. (Reuss younger line) in November 1917, the founding of an association and the first structural drafts in March 1918, Karl Weise finally received in May 1918 royal approval to collect “voluntary contributions” as part of his forest theater project.
“We are happy to confirm that his Highness showed a keen interest in the implementation of this plan and supported the execution of the same by making the forest area available, etc. Since the earnings of the company are intended to benefit the Reussian war invalids, mainly the war blind, we would also like to recommend the plan to the general public for the most warm-hearted promotion. Gera - Osterstein Castle, May 28, 1928, Princely Court Marshal's Office signed Freiherr von der Hayden-Rynsch Oberhofmarschall. "
On August 25, 1918, after a short construction period, the opening ceremony of the Reussian Forest Theater "Heldendank" took place. At the premiere and on two other Sundays, 150 participants created the prelude Waldfriede by court actor Max Thomas and the homeland play Der Bruderkrieg by Karl Weise. The net profit for the first season was 1,600 Reichsmarks and encouraged the association to continue the forest theater.
After approval was given, so u. a. Iphigenie auf Tauris and Die Laune des Verliebten by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe , Bastien and Bastienne by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , The Pastor of Kirchfeld by Ludwig Anzengruber , Preciosa by Pius Alexander Wolff , Hansel and Gretel , A Midsummer Night's Dream and What You Want by William Shakespeare , Amphitryon by Heinrich von Kleist and The chaste bon vivant by Arnold and Bach for performance. Actors were actors from the Reussian court theater, amateur actors from the forest theater ensemble and numerous extras. The artistic director was the court actor Max Thomas until 1924. In addition to playing, clubs and societies used the forest theater for their events.
In 1925 the facility was renovated, new seating for 800 spectators and the construction of a representative entrance and ticket office were built.
But the renovation of the forest theater only lasted a short time. With the death of Heinrich XXVII. (Reuss younger line) on November 21, 1928 and by Karl Weise on November 4, 1929, the Reussian Forest Theater lost both its most loyal patron and its most important organizer within a year. "Rainy summers, unfavorable weather and cold days" as well as a dwindling visitor interest caused the income to shrink to 25 to 75 Reichsmarks annually in the coming years. Open bills also brought the association into financial difficulties and in 1933 prompted its chairman Albin Hofmann to return the area with the buildings of the forest theater to the Reussian asset management. Thus ended the story of the Reussian forest theater "Heldendank".
After the Second World War , the area of the former forest theater was closed to military training for the Soviet Army . From the mid-1980s it was used as a shooting range for the German People's Police . After its closure, the site remained largely unused. On August 25, 2018, two schools in Weida and the Gera-Ernsee youth forest home organized a celebration on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first day of the Reussian forest theater “Heldendank”.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Detour to Gera-Untermhaus: Waldtheater Heldendank. Retrieved October 9, 2019 .
- ↑ a b c Gera City Archives
- ^ Klaus Sommermeyer: Waldtheater celebrates its centenary. August 31, 2018, accessed October 9, 2019 .
Coordinates: 50 ° 53 ′ 25.1 ″ N , 12 ° 3 ′ 13 ″ E