Passion theater

Zu Pentecost 1634 For the first time, the people of Oberammergau fulfill their promise to perform the Passion tragedy every ten years. They first set up a stage over the fresh graves of the plague dead in the community cemetery. This venue was maintained until 1820.

The original simple wooden frame of the wooden stage was equipped with backdrops and stage technology in the course of the 17th and 18th centuries. In the year 1815 Johann Nikolais Unhoch undertakes a fundamental redesign. 1830 The stage is set up for the first time on the site of today's Passion Theater.

1890 According to Carl Lautenschläger's plans, a new building is built based on the old form. The construction at this time consists of six steel arch girders in a half-timbered construction.
An attached and constructed wooden post construction gives the building a basilica-like character.
For the passion play 1900 Finally, the auditorium is roofed with the iron frame construction of six high arches that still exists today. It opens to the front of the open-air stage.

In the Passion Year 1930 The new open-air stage was built by Georg Johann Lang and Raimund Lang. The artistic concentration of the stage designs corresponds to the clear, ascetic, monumental style of the stage house, which was previously made entirely of wood. As part of the expansion of the auditorium, the original seating, consisting of simple rows of benches, will be replaced by theater seating. The rows of benches now offer space for 5.200 visitors.

After the passion play 1990 It is clear that extensive renovations to the interior and the facade have become necessary. In addition, the comfort in the auditorium is to be increased and the stage technology is to be modernized.

Im September1997 There will be a referendum in which three alternative proposals for the renovation will be voted on.

The house will be completely renovated within 2 years: new seating, underfloor heating, expansion of the cloakrooms, conversion of the foyer with exhibition areas for disabled people, new fire protection on steel and wooden components, renovation of the facade, sanitary rooms, modernization of the stage technology. The total construction costs amount to 15 million DM.
The ceremonial inauguration will take place on September 26, 1999 took place at the same time as the renewal of the plague vow.
The newly renovated Theater now offers 4.720 completely covered seats to a worldwide audience of maximum comfort and absolute safety. Oberammergau thus lives up to its reputation as leading Passion play venue.

And the extensive construction work has another positive effect: even in the interim years, the Passion Theater can now regularly provide the right setting for major cultural events.

The most impressive way to experience the Passion Theater is on a guided tour that takes you into the auditorium and behind the stage:

Passion tours with slideshow on big screen and backstage area:

• Tuesday - Sunday 14 p.m. (Saturday at 13 p.m.) and 16 p.m. (from 3 people)

• 11 Uhr.

Note for KönigsCard holders:
1 x daily free entry with guided tour (+ Oberammergau Museum incl. exhibitions + Pilatus House)

Accessibility information:

The Passion Theater (foyer, auditorium) is barrier-free, there are seats for wheelchair users (at events), and there is a disabled toilet on site.