When does the performance take place?

The performance is scheduled for June 27, 2026, at 20:30.

Where is the play taking place?

The venue is the Old Courtyard at the cathedral square in Bamberg.

What is the ticket price?

The ticket price starts from €42 according to research.

Is the event indoors or outdoors?

The performance takes place in the historical setting of the Old Courtyard in the open air.

Are there any accessibility notes?

The Old Courtyard is considered partially wheelchair accessible; an elevator and a barrier-free toilet are available. Access is via cobblestones.

What official channels are there for the theater?

Official channels include Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and the website of the ETA Hoffmann Theater Bamberg.

Kleist's Bitter Comedy Classic Shines Under Bamberg's Summer Sky

Name: The Broken Jug, Heinrich von Kleist, Calderonspiele 2026
Start: 2026-06-27T22:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-06-28T00:30:00+02:00
Location: Alte Hofhaltung

Kleist's Master Comedy in the Open Air: The Broken Jug in the Old Courtyard

On June 27, 2026, Heinrich von Kleist's unbreakable classic unfolds in Bamberg that mixture of courtroom satire, linguistic art, and human unmasking that has captivated audiences for generations. In the historical setting of the Old Courtyard, sharp comedy meets baroque atmosphere, and Judge Adam finds himself in an evening where every excuse stands closer to the brink than to the truth.

A Comedy Classic with Razor-Sharp Relevance

The Broken Jug is one of the great works of German-speaking theater literature because Kleist exposes the mechanics of power, lies, and self-revelation with relentless precision. What begins as a seemingly trivial dispute over a broken jug becomes a virtuoso interrogation about guilt, authority, and the fragility of justice. It is precisely this dramatic condensation that makes the comedy so effective to this day: every turn hits, every image advances the plot, and every look at the stage becomes part of the evidence process.

Historical Setting, Lively Stage Pressure

The Old Courtyard in Bamberg lends a special tension to the stage experience. Among half-timbered buildings, close to the cathedral, and under the open summer evening sky, a theater atmosphere emerges, in which Kleist's comedy does not appear museum-like but immediate. The historical ambiance enhances the contrast between external grandeur and internal failure. It is from this interplay of architecture, lighting mood, and acting that this theater evening draws its power.

Direction, Set Design, and Ensemble as a Precise Theater Machine

The production by Jasper Brandis relies on the power of the text and the art of sharpening. Set design by Anna Siegrot and dramaturgy by Antonia Leitgeb-Busche frame the events in such a way that the comedy can unveil its comedic heights as well as its darker undertones. At the center is the ensemble featuring Stephan Ullrich, Eric Wehlan, Marek Egert, Iris Hochberger, Laura Röseler, Daniel Warland, and Hermia Gerdes. Together, they embody the precision that Kleist's dialogues demand: timing, pace, and a keen sensitivity for the constant teetering between farce and abyss.

Why This Piece Still Resonates Today

The Broken Jug remains a mirror for abuse of power, blind self-justification, and the art of wriggling out with words. In Bamberg, this play with truth and deception takes on an additional dimension, as the open summer stage pulls the audience right into the social heat of the conflict. Here, it is not just playing, but negotiating, unmasking, and laughing - until the comedy reveals all its unexpected sharpness.

For those who love theater that is clever, comedic, and sensual at the same time, an evening of great literary quality and immediate presence is experienced in the Old Courtyard. This performance invites you to not only read Kleist but to experience him live in the space, in the sound, and in the reaction of the audience.