When does the performance start?

The performance begins on July 7, 2026 at 20:30.

Where does the play take place?

It will be performed in the Old Court at Cathedral Square 7 in 96049 Bamberg.

What is the admission price?

Tickets start at 19 euros; depending on the category, the price may be higher.

Is this an open-air performance?

Yes, it is an open-air production in the historic courtyard.

What happens in bad weather?

In case of rain, the performance will be moved to the Great House of the E.T.A. Hoffmann Theater; the tickets remain valid.

Are there any accessibility notes?

The Old Court is accessible via Domstraße; there is also an elevator, an accessible toilet, and disabled parking available nearby.

A summer of pretense, a classic of comedy, Bamberg as a stage

Name: The Broken Jug, Heinrich von Kleist, Calderón Games 2026
Start: 2026-07-07T22:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-08T01:00:00+02:00
Location: Alte Hofhaltung

A summer evening full of wordplay, deception, and baroque tension

Heinrich von Kleist's The Broken Jug returns in 2026 to the historic setting of the Old Court and transforms Bamberg into an open-air courtroom. The Calderón Games combine the classic with that special theater atmosphere where comedy, power play, and human vulnerability collide in close quarters. For one evening, the UNESCO World Heritage city becomes a resonance chamber for Kleist's acerbic language, precise dramaturgy, and timeless delight in unmasking. ([kultur.bamberg.de](https://kultur.bamberg.de/_plaza/kuba.cfm?veranstaltungid=414679&utm_source=openai))

Kleist, the courtroom and the great comedy of excuses

The Broken Jug is one of the best-known comedies in German literature. At its center is village judge Adam, who himself comes under suspicion of causing the damage he is supposed to judge. Exactly from this tension, the play derives its power: from language as a weapon, from distortion as an art form, and from a stage situation in which each turn uncovers the next lie. The production by Jasper Brandis stages this material in the Old Court; the set design and dramaturgy are tailored to the historical surroundings of the Cathedral Hill. ([kultur.bamberg.de](https://kultur.bamberg.de/_plaza/kuba.cfm?veranstaltungid=414679&utm_source=openai))

Historic backdrop, open air, immediate presence

The Old Court is one of the most impressive locations in Bamberg. The Renaissance courtyard lies at the Cathedral Square, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, and forms an architectural ensemble of European significance with the Cathedral and the New Residence. For the audience, this means a special stage experience: stone, half-timbering, and summer evening become part of the performance. In case of rain, the performance can be moved to the Great House of the E.T.A. Hoffmann Theater; the tickets remain valid. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/poi/alte_hofhaltung-4659/?utm_source=openai))

Schedule, atmosphere, and practical information

The performance on July 7, 2026 begins at 20:30. The festival is designed as an open-air theater; the playing time of the Calderón Festival 2026 runs from late June to late July. Tickets for the performances are available depending on the category at prices ranging from 19 to 39 euros. The expected duration is approximately two hours and 30 minutes including an intermission. ([festivalsindeutschland.de](https://www.festivalsindeutschland.de/en/festival/calderon-festival-bamberg?utm_source=openai))

Accessibility and arrival

The Old Court is accessible without barriers via Domstraße; according to Bamberg Tourism, there is an elevator and an accessible toilet, as well as disabled parking spaces at the Cathedral Square. The city of Bamberg points out the historic courtyard with cobblestones, which makes the path charming but not completely even. Public transport or parking in the surrounding parking garages in the city center is recommended for arrival. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/poi/alte_hofhaltung-4659/?utm_source=openai))

Why this theater evening is worth it

This performance combines the art of language, playfulness, and summer lightness with the psychological sharpness of a classic. Anyone wanting to experience Kleist live will not get a museum-like literary theater here, but a vivid stage experience full of irony, confusion, and audience proximity. An evening for all who love theater as clever contemporary art and prefer to uncover the broken jug where it sounds best: in the middle of Bamberg. ([kultur.bamberg.de](https://kultur.bamberg.de/_plaza/kuba.cfm?veranstaltungid=414679&utm_source=openai))