Oberammergau Passion Play, Germany
Buying Tickets for the 2010 Passionsspiele Performances in Bavaria
Mar 31, 2008
Tickets for the Oberammergau Passion Play (Passionsspiele) 2010 in Bavaria, Southern Germany, just went on sale. The 41st series of arguably the world’s best-known performance of Christ’s Passion will run from May 15, 2010 to October 3, 2010.
- Hotels in Oberammergau, Germany are outrageously expensive during this period and generally only take reservations via DER Reisebüro in cooperation with the Oberammergau tourist information office.
The Passion Play of Oberammergau, Germany
The Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed in 1634. A year earlier, villagers made a pledge to perform Christ’s Passion if the bubonic plague, or “Black Death”, which was ravaging through Central Europe, would fail to claim further victims in Oberammergau. Miraculously, no further deaths occurred after this pledge and the first play was duly performed at Easter the following year.
Since 1634, the Passion Play has been performed forty times. The custom of performing the Passionsspiele every ten years started in 1680. Noticeable exceptions were 1870 and 1940 when wars prevented the performance and 1934 and 1984 when additional anniversary performances were held.
Buying Tickets for the Oberammergau Passion Play 2010
Tickets for the Oberammergau Passion Play 2010 are available for purchase from early 2008. The easiest way to obtain tickets is through a travel agent as part of a package tour of Germany and / or Europe.
Individual travelers can buy advance tickets for the Passion Play only from DER Reisebüro that sell tickets on behalf of Oberammergau town. The booking process is manual using mail and fax rather than online booking services. Two options are available:
- Packages (or arrangements) include one or two night’s accommodation, lunch and dinner on the day of the performance, tickets to the performance, a program, admission to the Oberammergau Museum, and transportation between hotels and the concert venue. Accommodation is available in five different hotel categories, guesthouses, and private rooms in homes. Most tickets are sold in these packages that ranges in price for single-night packages from €200 to just less than €600. Package deals are already available for sale to individuals.
- Tickets to the performance only are only sold for performances on Saturdays, as well as October 1 and 3. These tickets will only be on sale from April 20, 2009. Ticket prices range from €45 to €150.
In 2000, just over 500,000 visitors saw the Passion Play in Oberammergau – most concerts sold out.
The Passion Play Performance in Oberammergau, Germany
The Passion Play (Passionsspiele) in Oberammergau is performed by over 2,000 amateur players – almost half of Oberammergau’s total population. Just over 120 have speaking roles with the main actors alternating. Only locals may perform – actors must have been born in Oberammergau or have lived there for more than 20 years.
- No false beards or hair are used in the Oberammergau Passionsspiele – from February 2009, all male actors must allow hair and beards to grow until after the final performance.
The epic performance is long – a good five hours plus three hour break. In 2010, in a break from previous custom, the show will be in the afternoon and evening. The first half is from 2:30 to 5 pm and the second half from 8 to 10:30 pm.
Between May 15 and October 3, 2010, the passion play will be performed 102 times – no performances on Monday or Wednesday. The play is performed in the Passionstheater, a special theater that can seat around 4,500. The theater is partly open air, but as the seats are covered by a roof, performances are never cancelled due to bad weather.
- There are many other interesting sights in Oberammergau in addition to the famous Passion Play and lovely location. Interesting sights in the near vicinity include the Rococo monastery and church in Ettal, King Ludwig’s fantasy castle Schloss Linderhof, and the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listed Wieskirche. The region is well served by public transportation allowing for easy day-trips from Munich.
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