When does the performance start?

The performance starts on July 18, 2026, at 8:30 PM.

Where does the play take place?

It will be performed in the Old Courtyard at Domplatz 7 in 96049 Bamberg.

How much are the tickets?

The researched ticket price is €42 per ticket.

Is the performance indoors or outdoors?

The performance takes place in the open air.

Who directs the production?

The production is directed by Jasper Brandis.

Is the play interesting for theater lovers who appreciate language and comedy?

Yes, because Kleist's comedy combines linguistic art, satire, and precise dramaturgy into a particularly dense theater evening.

Kleist's Sharp Masterpiece Unfolds Summer Theater Magic in Bamberg

Name: The Broken Jug, Heinrich von Kleist, Calderon Plays 2026 - for the last time
Start: 2026-07-18T22:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-19T00:30:00+02:00
Location: Alte Hofhaltung

Kleist's Court Comedy in the Open Air at the Old Courtyard

On July 18, 2026, a classic of German-speaking theater bids farewell in Bamberg: Heinrich von Kleist's The Broken Jug at the Calderón Plays in the Old Courtyard. What starts as a seemingly minor village dispute grows into a sharp game of power, deceit, and self-exposure. In the historic setting of the Cathedral Hill, a stage experience of particular tension unfolds.

When the Judge Himself Comes Under Suspicion

Judge Adam, damaged by a restless night yet accustomed to ruling in the courtroom, gets involved in a trial that dismantles his own authority. Kleist's comedy thrives on precise dramaturgy, a verbal dive, and that bitter humor in which every excuse resonates against the truth. It is precisely here that the lasting power of this comedy lies: it is both farce, social satire, and a piece about the fragile order of justice.

Historical Setting, Open Summer Air, Charged Theater Atmosphere

The Old Courtyard in Bamberg lends an aura to the production that cannot be replicated. Half-timbered houses, stone, proximity to the cathedral, and summer evenings create a resonance space in which every punchline is sharper, every glance more public, and every revelation more immediate. The open stage amplifies audience reactions because the play with truth and deception does not disappear behind proscenium limits but breaks out right in the space.

Direction, Set Design, and Ensemble as a finely tuned interplay

Jasper Brandis directs the production, Anna Siegrot is responsible for the set design, and Antonia Leitgeb-Busche for dramaturgy. The ensemble on stage, which includes Stephan Ullrich, Eric Wehlan, Marek Egert, Iris Hochberger, Laura Röseler, Daniel Warland, and Hermia Gerdes, must carry Kleist's pointed language with timing, pace, and precision. Exactly there lies the artistry of this evening: in the balance between comedy and abyss, between historical distance and contemporary readability.

Why This Theater Evening Still Resonates Today

The Broken Jug remains a prescient look at abuse of power, rhetorical acrobatics, and institutional failure. The play does not feel museum-like in the open-air venue but surprisingly current. The open theater atmosphere of the Old Courtyard transforms Kleist's text into a lively interrogation, drawing its comedy from the unrest of the present.

Conclusion: Those who appreciate literary theater, clever staging, and summery open-air ambiance will experience an evening with substance, wit, and great stage presence in Bamberg. This final performance invites audiences to experience Kleist's master comedy live once more.