City of Kronach in the theater dispute: Is the festival tradition in danger?

City of Kronach in the theater dispute: Is the festival tradition in danger?

Things are currently simmering behind the scenes in the city of Kronach. In connection with the planned Lucas Cranach Festival, a new production of the classic “Faust I”, there are considerable tensions between the city administration and the Werkbühne directed by Daniel Leistner. As np-coburg.de reports, the city of Kronach intervened, which raised concerns among critics and citizens about possible negative effects to the theater and cultural events.

Daniel Leistner, known for his innovative production of “Faust”, is at the helm of this project, which has a long tradition in the city. Kronach can look back on a proud 160 years of acting history, which began in 1865 with performances by the Catholic Journeymen's Association. In addition, a current special exhibition in the Prince's Building of the Rosenberg Fortress shows the depths of this stage culture and its development.

Cultural tensions and the future of the Werkbühne

The current developments in the theater are described as dramatic. It seems like there is a power play going on, with only the first act having been played so far. Critics fear that although the dispute is a local issue, it could have possible negative effects on the entire cultural life in Kronach.

The Werkbühne Kronach has an eventful history that began in 1979. Ulf Mattiesen and Hans-Jürgen Schmitt founded a rehearsal stage that developed over the years into a permanent cultural institution. After various stages and challenges - including a closure in 1994 and moves to different locations - the Werkbühne finally established itself in the Studiobühne in the district cultural area. Daniel Leistner has been directing since 2020 and brings a breath of fresh air to the productions.

The new festival project and the Rosenberg Festival

The Lucas Cranach Festival is planned for the summer of 2025 and will be staged in the new event hall in the beer garden of the Kettelerhaus. This new hall will open in autumn 2025 and the premiere will be the production of “Faust I”. The anticipation for this performance is great, and many hope that the festival will be a great success in inspiring the cultural and theater scene in Kronach, especially in the anniversary year of “Kronacher Bühnenwelten. 160 years of theater history in Kronach”. This is also reflected in the upcoming Rosenberg Festival, which will enter its tenth season in 2025 and feature a performance of “Everyman” by Hugo von Hofmannsthal.

Could it be that all these cultural threads that have been spun in Kronach for over a century are now being woven together by the conflict? The coming months will show whether the city and the Werkbühne can find a common path or whether further “acts” will follow.

The developments are exciting and the region's culture lovers can only hope that the theater festival has a brilliant future with the combined experience and creativity of the Kronach actors. It remains to be seen how the city and the Werkbühne will resolve their differences and whether the long tradition of stage art in Kronach will endure.