Chronology
1613 oldest script
of an Easter performance by Sebastian Wild from Augsburg.
1912 – A new Passion playhouse is built
Following performances in the attic of the Postmaster's house, later in a brewery, and after 1858 in a small playhouse, the Passion play was performed for the first time in 1912 in a new 1500 seat Passion playhouse that was built at a cost of 160 000 Kroners. Location: the "Weidau" District.
1922 – Plays following the first World War
The First World War caused not only a dramatic political upheaval, but also a spiritual one.
The costs for repairs, wardrobe, scripts, musical scores, instruments and signs were immeasurable. Even the record number of spectators, 70,000, at 32 performances was not enough to secure the future of the Passion, due the mounting expenses.
1926 - 1929 Occasional Performances
Between Passion plays so-called occasional performances have a long tradition in Erl.
1926 : The Franziskusspiel
1927 : The Andeas Hofer Play of Erl
1928, 1929 : The Marienspiel
1932 / 1933
In 1932 they set to work again and had met with measured success, putting on 39 performances, which they had hoped to continue in the following year.
But in 1993 a political turning point occurred in Germany, from where most of the spectators came, the National Socialists came to power.
The "thousand Mark ban" made travel abroad, that is to Erl, much more difficult for Germans.
A yawning emptiness filled the audience hall at the third performance of the Passion in 1933.
Only a few spectators had made their way to the performance. It was decided to interrupt that season and perhaps to continue it in the autumn. But it never came to that. On the night of July 18th to 19th, 1933 a fire destroyed the playhouse and with it everything that was needed for the production. It was the work of arsonists.
Political pressure increased. In 1938 Austria became a part of the greater German empire and the Nazi District Leader, Hofer, announced curtly to the parish priest in Erl: As long as the National Socialists are in power there will be no Passion play.
In September 1938, the Erl Passion Play Association had to declare bankruptcy.
1946 – Revival of the Passion Play Association
In 1946, the Passion Play Association was re-established and with the reconstruction of the playhouse as the first order of business. But, following lengthy negotiations, it was not until 1957 that building of the new playhouse could begin. The architect Robert Schuler provided the blueprint.
1959 – The First Season following the Second World War
Since then Passion plays have been performed in Erl in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1979, 1985, 1991, 1997 and 2002.
Occasional Plays – The Tradition Continues
1970 : The Resurrection of Christ
1988 : The Prodigal Son
1994 : The Erl Faust
2000 and 2001: The Death of the Nazarene
2008 – Upcoming Passion Plays
In 2008 the Erl Passion will appear to the public with a whole new look. The script, music, set and costumes will be redesigned. See Menu: New Passion Play
Mühlgraben 56 · A-6343 Erl
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