Oberammergau 2022: "We were gripped by passion fever!"

Created: 05/12/2022, 1:49 p.m

Passion 2022: Jesus is unbending, he fights for the poor and oppressed.

© Günter Bitala

The interest in the Passion in Oberammergau is great.

Very young reporters and veteran journalists with passion experience had recently rushed to Oberammergau for the press presentation.

Günter Bitala was there for the district messenger.

Oberammergau –

1.30 p.m.: press conference.

The Käfer orangery is packed – keep your distance?

Wearing a mask is not forbidden!

Mayor Andreas Rödl beams: "After such a long period of cultural lockdown, we are the first major international event in Germany to welcome guests from all over the world again." And Christian Stückl calls out to the media representatives: "We were gripped by passion fever!"

For Stückl, these are the fourth games as a director.

He looks back a bit - when he imagined a "rebellious, combative" Jesus in 1990 and 2000.

In 2010 his image changed to a "thoughtful Jesus".

And now, in 2022, it will be a rebellious Jesus who sees himself close to the people and fights passionately for the poor and oppressed.

Stückl's hair has turned gray, everyone in the room knows about his heart attack last winter: "I'm fine again.

I've given up smoking.” That's the end of the subject.

Rather, the man is worried about 'the passion', as the people of Oberammergau say: Can you play because of Corona?

Which requirements have to be met?

Are the cast members staying healthy?

The tribe stayed together.

But of the other contributors, 300 had to drop out;

After a forced two-year break, they couldn't keep another year free for the passion.

Studies and work come first.

"The remaining 1400 participants are one hundred percent motivated," says Stückl.

400 children are divided into three groups, so every boy and girl is on stage every three days.

With all confidence: The corona pandemic and the terrible war in Ukraine are shadows on the wall.

Christian Stückl: "We don't know what the coming months will bring, how many people will visit us." Walter Rutz, the plant manager responsible for staging the Passion Play, gives the first figures: "We have sold three quarters of the 450,000 tickets available .

Demand in the USA, Great Britain and Scandinavia is also high.

After statements from the executive team, a reporter wants to know how many cast members are regular churchgoers?

"I don't know," replies Stückl honestly: "It's none of my business either.

I don't care about the religious orientation.

Anyone who dares to play can play along.” When asked how Stückl sees the current situation in the Catholic Church, the director replies: “We do our thing on the Passion stage and the Church does its thing.”

Now Christian Stückl wants to go to the theater.

Finally play!

The television crews and the photographers have positioned themselves.

With the first bars of the orchestra and the parade of the choir, the hustle and bustle in the auditorium fades away.

It's going to be dead quiet.

Everyone listens carefully.

The 'Angel' outlines the history of the Passion vows when the 1634 plague terrified people.

During the 'Entrance into Jerusalem' – the first mass scene – a quick look over to a colleague who always has to cry at this point.

Indeed: his eyes are shining and he is holding a crumpled handkerchief in his hand.

The Spirit of Passion is doing a good job!

It was dark in Oberammergau for the crucifixion and resurrection.

End: For journalists, the motto actually applies: Ned scolded, it's globt gnua!

No longer true that evening when enthusiastic applause erupts.