Theaterverein Burgspiele Kemnat
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Theaterverein Burgspiele Kemnat e. V. is an amateur theatre group in Kemnat, a district of Kaufbeuren, Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. Founded in 1925, it became known for large historical open-air plays at the castle ruins of Großkemnat and today also performs in its own chamber theatre and as a medieval street theatre.[1]
| Theaterverein Burgspiele Kemnat e. V. | |
| Founded | 1925 |
|---|---|
| Legal form | Registered association (eingetragener Verein) |
| Member of | Verband Bayerischer Amateurtheater |
| Location | |
| Headquarters | Kaufbeuren |
| Country | Germany |
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| |
| Links | |
| Website | burgspiele.de |
History
The Theaterverein Kemnat was founded in 1925. Most of its first members came from the church choir, encouraged by the local priest Häußler and trained by the school teacher Bachschmid; they mainly staged folk plays with songs and dances in the hall of the inn Zum goldenen Kreuz in Kleinkemnat. Fourteen major productions were staged before the Second World War, and the Theatergruppe Kemnat resumed playing soon after the war; the last production under the teacher Völk was Der Paternoster-Kramer von Ettal in 1957. On 1 May 1970 the board resigned and a majority of the members voted to dissolve the club, but young players continued it, and membership soon rose to well over 100.[1]
For the 800th anniversary of Kemnat in 1985 the club staged scenes and a mercenaries' camp with the storming of the tower. Soon after, the Bavarian state actor Peter Pius Irl, a native of Kaufbeuren, wrote the historical open-air play Kemnat anno Domini 1240 for the castle grounds of Großkemnat, which he also directed; it was followed every three years by further open-air plays written and directed by him.[1][2] In 1993 the theatre club merged into the registered Burgspielverein, taking its present name. From 1995 the members built a theatre barn (Theaterstadel) financed by the open-air proceeds, which also served as a bad-weather venue. The club's greatest success was the mystery play Crescentia von Kaufbeuren, sold out in both seasons, with 480 spectators per performance. After the open-air play Die Brunnenkur zu Bickenried (2010), Irl ended his work as director of the Burgspiele; he died on 11 October 2025.[1][3]
Repertoire
Besides the large open-air productions, the club performs chamber plays in its Theaterstadel, inaugurated as a chamber theatre with Die deutschen Kleinstädter, and medieval street theatre with pieces by Hans Sachs and Irl at events such as the encampment of Kaufbeuren's Tänzelfest and the club's own Tag auf der Burg.[1]
Venue
The open-air plays are staged on the castle grounds of Großkemnat; the club's own Theaterstadel, built from 1995, serves as chamber theatre and bad-weather venue.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Über uns, Theaterverein Burgspiele Kemnat e. V., retrieved 26 October 2026. Archived on 6 June 2026.
- ↑ Trauerrede für Ehrentheaterdirektor Peter Pius Irl, Theaterverein Burgspiele Kemnat e. V., 21 October 2025, retrieved 26 October 2026. Archived on 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Theaterverein Burgspiele Kemnat, Theaterverein Burgspiele Kemnat e. V., retrieved 26 October 2026. Archived on 6 June 2026.