Festival highlight: Joern Hinkel stages brilliant Midsummer Night's Dreams!

Festival highlight: Joern Hinkel stages brilliant Midsummer Night's Dreams!

Bad Hersfeld experiences a magical evening: This year's edition of the Bad Hersfeld Festival was ceremoniously opened on Friday. This opening had a special touch because artistic director and director Joern Hinkel is leaving the venue after eight successful years. For his outstanding achievements, Hinkel received the Hessian Order of Merit on ribbon from Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU). In his last work he staged “Midsummer Night's Dreams” based on motifs by William Shakespeare and was rewarded with long applause and a standing ovation.

The production is a real feast for the eyes and combines elements from various Shakespeare works and is set in the Victorian era. Under the musical direction of Christoph Wohlleben, the festival orchestra provided a particularly atmospheric ambience with live music. With steampunk elements in the stage and costume design, Hinkel took the audience into a world full of transformations and love confusion. The main roles were played convincingly by Erol Sander, Christian Nickel and Bettina Hauenschild. Anna Graenzer in the role of Puck and Peter Englert, whose portrayal of a craftsman caused a few laughs, also received particular attention.

Criticism and reactions

But not all audience members were convinced: Some found the piece to be confusing and confused, which was particularly unpopular among visitors with less Shakespearean affinity. The production appeals primarily to fans of the bard. The plot, in which Theseus, the Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta prepare for their wedding celebration, offers a mix of dreamlike moments and fast-paced scenes that captivate viewers.

The premiere on June 21, 2025 for “Ronja the Robber’s Daughter” also deserves special attention, followed by Schiller’s “The Robbers” on June 27. These works promise an exciting variety, while the festival offers numerous performances and revivals until August 18th.

History and outlook

This new production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” has a long tradition at the Bad Hersfeld Festival. The piece was first performed in 1961 and was followed by numerous revivals in 1983, 1992, 2004, 2005 and 2015. Hinkel staged the piece ten years ago and is now bringing fresh ideas to the stage.

If you don't want to miss the upcoming events, you can look forward to the following dates: On June 22, 2025, further performances will be offered in the chapter hall in the museum and the abbey ruins at both 2:00 p.m. (sold out) and 3:00 p.m. (remaining tickets available). The tickets can be booked online.

The Bad Hersfeld Festival has established itself as an important cultural society and shows that theater is also very popular in small towns. If you are interested in other events, you can find out more on the Bad Hersfelder Festspiele website.

It remains to be hoped that the festival will continue to be a place for great passion and creative development in the future, where actors and directors like Joern Hinkel demonstrate a good hand for the audience. Other theater events in the area, such as the PLUG&PLAY Theater Festival in Mainz, also show that the love of the stage is alive everywhere in Germany.