Dramaturge

This year's Christmas play at the Reithalle takes a look at the madness of everyday life. Based on his own experiences as a temporary Christmas elf at the famous department store chain Macy's, David Sedaris paints a wonderfully absurd picture of the festive season—full of overexcited customers, moody colleagues, and screaming children dictating their wishes to Santa Claus. With plenty of humor, we encounter human peculiarities, banal situations, and profound stories. A satire about consumerism, Christmas hypocrisy, and the absurdities of modern holiday rituals. This entertaining evening looks at Christmas with a wink and plenty of music. 

Confessions of a Christmas Elf

Reithalle

On the stormy night when the robber's daughter Ronja is born, lightning strikes Mattisburg Castle. From then on, there are two halves of the castle. In one half, Ronja lives with her band of robbers, led by her father Mattis. The other half remains empty for a long time – until the rival Borka band suddenly takes over. As Ronja grows older, she begins to explore the adjacent forest on her own. On these forays, she must brave wild dwarves, grey gnomes, and many other dangers and finally encounters Birk, the son of the rival Borka band of robbers.

EPSG:4326

Ronja the Robber's Daughter

Globe Coburg

Is it still possible to bring a child into the world with a clear conscience today? This is the question posed by a young couple who long for a child. But the world they would be born into is fraught with crises: overpopulation, climate change, dwindling resources, economic insecurity. Is it irresponsible to have a child now – or perhaps even necessary? What begins as an innocuous question unfolds into a whirlwind of closeness and distance – a rollercoaster of emotions that shakes their life plans. Shouldn't they, both responsible, Fair Trade-buying people, refrain from accelerating the planet's destruction by having children? Where is the line between selfishness and responsibility? 

Breathe

Güllen's train station is run down. The streets and buildings are also dilapidated, many shops are closed, and most of the citizens' possessions are pawned. Money is needed, and urgently! The announcement of a visit comes at just the right time: Claire Zachanassian, a billionaire philanthropist, is returning to her hometown. Once born in Güllen as Klara Wäscher, she was forced to leave the town in a hurry after her childhood sweetheart, Alfred Ill, played a dirty trick on her. Now Claire is back and makes the people of Güllen an offer: One billion, but for that, Alfred Ill must die. The offer is rejected with great indignation. Better poor than bloodstained! But little by little, consumerism increases in the town, a new town hall is to be built, and even the church suddenly has new bells...

The Visit of the Old Lady

GLOBE Coburg

Inès, Estelle, and Garcin meet after their deaths – in a mysterious room with no windows or mirrors. The door remains locked, the bell seems broken. No fire, no torturers, no tormentors. Yet they are certain: This must be hell. But why does damnation look so different from what they imagined? And why were they, of all people, locked in this room together? They don't know each other; they could hardly be more different. But is their encounter truly a coincidence? It soon becomes clear: Their punishment is not physical pain, but the inevitable togetherness. They observe, judge, and penetrate each other – and make each other's lives hell.

Closed society

Athens is at a standstill. The old King Theseus announces his abdication once again, but so far nothing has happened. His wife Phaedra is also growing impatient, eager to finally throw off the restrictive corset of the court. The designated heir to the throne, Demophon, is already awaiting his coronation. All that is missing is the planned marriage to Persea, which is supposed to seal the transfer of power. But Persea is no docile bride. Instead of resigning herself to her fate, she questions the rules – and ignites her forbidden love for Phaedra. A scandal that shakes the foundations of Athenian society. In a world ruled by rigid rules and the influence of the high priest, love can become a dangerous act of rebellion. What ensues is a struggle between social order and individual freedom.

Phaedra, in flames

When a man dies, no woman is allowed to leave the house for the next eight years, as tradition dictates. Recently widowed Bernarda Alba enforces this tradition rigorously, using force if necessary. Honor and social reputation are paramount for her. For her five daughters, the house becomes a prison. Locked up and cut off from the outside world, they long for love, freedom, and self-determination. But Bernarda tolerates no disobedience—or marriage below social status. Only Augustina, the eldest daughter, is allowed to become engaged to the attractive Pepe el Romano. But her youngest daughter, Adela, also has her eye on him. 

Bernarda Alba's House

In Germany, up to 400 billion euros are inherited each year – but that's over now. A radical inheritance reform is intended to ensure real redistribution: Inheritances will be redistributed by lottery, and the bureaucracy will – naturally – be taken over by the job center. Armin and Gabor sit in a dreary, gray civil servant's office and now also process inheritance applications. Silke's application for her inheritance was unfortunately rejected. This is annoying, because her father was extremely wealthy. She should at least be entitled to a lottery ticket, Silke believes, and storms into the job center in a rage, where she meets Maude in the waiting room. She was caught collecting deposit bottle deposits – and Gabor promptly deducted the deposit money from her basic social security benefits. Two women, two completely different lives – but one common goal: They no longer want to be sidelined by this system. Without further ado, they grab their weapons and storm Gabor's office to reclaim their "rights" with all their might.

Jeeps

Tonight, the big Addams family dinner is taking place, but something is different with her daughter. The usually so dark and grim Wednesday Addams is suddenly smiling! A frightening sight – her mother Morticia is sure she's sick. But her husband Gomez insists on the planned dinner and is also behaving strangely. What Morticia doesn't know: Wednesday is in love and wants to get engaged. To a handsome, intelligent young man from a respectable family, of all people. Terribly unmorbid. And it gets worse. At the family dinner, the two families are supposed to finally get to know each other. While the Addamses are enthusiastic about torture instruments, the Beinekes are acting a bit stiffly. When Pugsley, Wednesday's little brother with a penchant for explosives, gets involved, the young couple's happiness is put to a severe test. The internationally successful Broadway musical can now be seen here in Coburg. Look forward to a quirky, chaotic evening and celebrate the unconventional!

Dramaturge

Anne Verena Freybott

Events

Upcoming events

Oct 3, 2025 - Feb 4, 2026

The Visit of the Old Lady · Landestheater Coburg

Oct 4 - Dec 9, 2025

Breathe · Landestheater Coburg

Nov 2, 2025 - Jan 11, 2026

Ronja the Robber's Daughter · Landestheater Coburg

Nov 21, 2025 - Jan 11, 2026

Confessions of a Christmas Elf · Landestheater Coburg

Feb 13 - Mar 5, 2026

Closed society · Landestheater Coburg

Past events

Nov 21, 2025 - Jan 11, 2026

Confessions of a Christmas Elf · Landestheater Coburg

Nov 2, 2025 - Jan 11, 2026

Ronja the Robber's Daughter · Landestheater Coburg

About

Anne Verena Freybott hasn't added a bio