Rathen (dpa/sn) - With the Felsenbühne Rathen in Saxon Switzerland, one of the most famous natural theaters in Germany is ready to play again. After a break of more than two years, the stage framed by sandstone rocks was presented on Tuesday. "The expectations are high. "We can implement what we have wanted and planned for at least a decade," explained Manuel Schöbel, director of the Landesbühnen Sachsen, which takes care of the performances in Rathen.
The conversion of the Felsenbühne Rathen began in October 2019. The cost is 18.4 million euros. A functional building was created with an orchestra pavilion, cloakrooms and rooms for technology and storage. Larch wood from the Tharandt forest was used for the facade. The stage is now much larger than before and has been equipped with special riding sand - because real horses are used on the rock stage. The stage technology and the auditorium were also upgraded.
With an opening gala, the Felsenbühne is to be repossessed from June 5th. The season then runs until September. The state theaters are planning 52 performances and have announced four premieres: the musical "West Side Story" (June 24), the plays "The Cold Heart" (July 15) and "Everyman" (August 4) and the Wagner opera "The Flying Dutchman" (August 21). A preview program can be seen from Friday before the official start.
Like other natural theaters in Germany, the Felsenbühne was created during the Nazi era and offers space for 1800 guests. It opened in 1936 with a play by the Saxon local poet Kurt Arnold Findeisen. The open-air theater has been used by the state theaters of Saxony since 1954. Productions of the opera "Der Freischütz" by Carl Maria von Weber and theater versions of the Winnetou plays based on Karl May are particularly popular.
