41st Passion Play in Oberammergau

We invite you to experience this once in a lifetime event!

The history of the Oberammergau Passion Play be-
gins in 1633. During the Thirty Years' War, after much suffering and also many deaths caused by the bubonic plague, the surviving population of Oberammergau vowed that they would perform the “play of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ” every ten years if they were spared from extinction. At Whitsun in 1634 they kept their promise for the first time. As early as the middle of the 18th century spectators came to Oberammergau from all parts of Germany, at- tracted by the great power and mystique of the play. In 2010 the village will perform the play for the 41st time, maintaining the continuity of this unique world famous event.
Over 2000 participants bring the story of Jesus of

Nazareth to the ears and eyes of the audience in
a five-hour presentation on the imposing open- air stage. Almost half of the inhabitants of Ober- ammergau enact with great devotion the story of Jesus whose message gives billions of people hope and strength. The play covers the period of Jesus entering Jerusalem and continues up to his death on the Cross and his resurrection.
The new production, under the direction of Chri- stian Stückl and the artistic team of the Passion Play in 2000, the stage designer Stefan Hagen- eier and the music directors Markus Zwink and Michael Bocklet, reflects the  tremendous com- munity achievement. For ten months the villa- gers (actors)   playing the roles of Jesus, Mary, Pontius Pilate and the apostles, of the children,

soldiers and priests will be rehearsing the newly
revised text whilst  the orchestra and the singers will be studying the exceptional music created for the performance by the composer Rochus Dedler. In 2010 the performance will, for the first time, begin in the afternoon and the second part will be performed  in  the  evening  hours.  For  2010,  the Oberammergau people will maintain the traditi- ons  that  have kept the play valid for 376 years, making it a brilliant cultural and religious event. The  premiere  takes place  on Saturday,  15  May
2010. The Passion Play will be staged for a total  of
102 days.
 
…we look forward to this momentous theatrical tradition.