The Störtebeker Festival () is a yearly open-air theatre festival in Germany. It is based on stories around the medieval German privateer Klaus Störtebeker and his Victual Brothers, who later turned to pirates.
Founded in 1959, as part of an East German cultural initiative, the festival has become Germany's most successful open-air theatre event, and is broadcast by public television network NDR. It is held in the small town of Ralswiek on the isle of Rügen.
Background In 1959, the "Rügenfestspiele" were founded in Ralswiek as part of a cultural commission of the GDR and the Ralswiek natural stage was created. The place for the then Rügen Festival was found in the spring of 1959 between Ralswiek Castle and the shore of the shallow Jasmund lagoon (german: "Jasmunder Bodden" [Bodden is a type of shallow lagoon typical of the southern Baltic Sea coast, especially in northeastern Germany.]), and the natural stage was then built in five months of construction and the village was converted into a festival venue.
From 1959 to 1961 and 1980 to 1981 the Dramatic Ballad "Klaus Störtebeker" by Kurt Barthel was performed under the direction of Hanns Anselm Perten and the choral direction of Günther Wolf with about 1,000 participants. A total of 670,000 visitors were counted during these five summers.
Production since 1993
Content In contrast to the piece of the time, the legend of the pirate Klaus Störtebeker, who sailed the Baltic Sea with his Victual brothers at the end of the 14th century, is told at the Störtebeker Festival since 1993, each spread over a period of four to six years. The first instalment of a cycle typically telling the story of how Klaus becomes a pirate and the last instalment typically depicting his execution in Hamburg in 1401. The very first instalment bore the name "Wie einer Pirat wird" (How to become a Pirate) and starred Norbert Braun in the main role of Klaus Störtebeker. He went on to play him for the next 8 years until Sasha Gluth took over the role from 2002 until 2012. In 2006 the production was called In Henker's Hand, in which Klaus Störtebeker was beheaded. The fourth cycle spanned the period 2007-2012; the first episode in the summer of 2007 was titled Betrayed and Sold. In a break from the typical structure of a cycle, 2009 marked the beginning of a trilogy about Störtebeker's treasure. The cycle was completed by the piece Störtebeker's Death. In 2013, the narrative started from scratch with the Beginning of a Legend. Sascha Gluth was replaced by Bastian Semm and the role of Goedeke Michels was taken over by Andreas Euler. Both played their leading roles for a cycle long (2013-2017). Semm was succeeded by Alexander Koll who played the titular role for two instalments. In 2020 Koll announced that he was no longer going to star in the festival for personal reasons. Moritz Stephan was subsequently announced to replace him in the role, but due to COVID restrictions leading to the cancellation of the next 2 seasons, he was not able to debut until 2022.
Number of Visitors On August 17, 2007, the 912th performance since 1993 counted the four millionth visitor.
On September 1, 2008, the 2005 season record was broken. On this day, the 367,000th visitor was counted, six performances before the end of the season. However, this record was broken again in 2009, with a total of 394,766 spectators attending the most successful open-air theatre in Germany this year.
On July 19, 2010, the 1091st performance since 1993 counted the five millionth visitor to Ralswiek. This results in an average of 4600 visitors per performance with a capacity of 8802 seats.
With the end of the 2016 season, the festival will attract more than 7.3 million visitors in 24 years and more than 1500 performances.
Contributors
The Störtebeker Festival employs more than 140 extras, 20 actors, 30 horses, four ships with skippers, and other behind-the-scenes staff. The casting of the extras takes place at the beginning of March of the respective year.
Actors with the Most Contributions +In leading roleYear(s) ActorRole Performances1993–2001 Norbert Braun Klaus Störtebeker 540 1993–2001, 2003–2012Dietmar LahaineGoedeke Michels11982002–2012 Sascha GluthKlaus Störtebeker 719 2013–2017 Bastian Semm 335 Andreas EulerGoedeke Michels2018–2019Alexander KollKlaus Störtebeker 134 since 2018Alexander HanflandGoedeke Michels408since 2022 Moritz StephanKlaus Störtebeker274 +In supporting roleActorPerformancesPeriodWolfgang Lippert15232000–2001, since 2003Mike Hermann Rader12672003–2023Hans-Jörg Fichtner12591993–2012Norbert Braun1125since 2007Charles Lemming10112005–2006, 2008, 2011, since 2013Burkhard Kurth9911993–2008Mircea Krishan7961993–1997, 1999–2006Fred Braeutigam7901993–2005Thomas Linke7372009–2019Ben Hecker7252003–2013 As of december 2025
Overview of performers StarringRoleIn the yearsNorbert BraunKlaus Störtebeker, various1993-2001, since 2007Sascha GluthKlaus Störtebeker2002–2012Bastian SemmKlaus Störtebeker2013–2017Alexander KollKlaus Störtebeker2018–2019Moritz StephanKlaus Störtebekerfrom 2021Dietmar LahaineGoedeke Michels, merchant Langendoorp1993–2001, 2003–2013, 2018Andreas EulerGoedeke Michels2013–2017Alexander HanflandGoedeke Michelsfrom 2018Wolfgang LippertAbellin, the ballad singer, various2000-2001, since 2003Mike Hermann RaderVarioussince 2003Thomas LinkeVariousseit 2009Charles LemmingWigbold, various2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, since 2013Karin HartmannQueen Margaret, Fronica, various1993, since 2013Hans-Jörg FichtnerVarious1993–2012Burkhard KurthVarious1993–2008Fred Braeutigamvarious, now working behind the stage1993–2005Mircea KrishanVarious1993–1997, 1999–2006Roland SeidlerVarious1993–2003Ben HeckerVarious2003–2013Sabine KotzurVarious1993–2001Mario RamosVarious2009–2015Nils DüwellVarious1998–2004Manfred ReddemannVarious1995–1996, 2005–2006, 2010Klaus-Peter ThieleVarious1998–2001, 2003Wolfgang DehlerVarious1996–1997, 1999–2001Sibylle PapeVarious1997, 2003–2007, 2010Robert RöskeVarious1994, 1996–1997, 1999–2000Renate BlumeVarious1999–2002Peter TheissBoatman2002–2005Julia HorvathOrka tom Broke, Maraike2004–2006, 2012Ingrid van BergenVarious2005–2008, 2010Robert GlatzederBrother Thomasius2007–2010Martina GuseVarious2004, 2008, 2010–2011Frank RebelVarious2004–2005, 2007Jürgen HaaseVarious2008–2009, 2011Claudia GaebelMary, Elizabeth2010–2011, 2013Ronnie PaulSchlunz1993–1995Patricia SchäferIngeborg of Mecklenburg, Sophia of Pomerania-Wolgast2008, 2014, 2016Neithard RiedelVarious2012–2014Ben BremerVarious2007, 2015, 2016Maria-Anne MüllerVarious1997, 2000Heidemarie WenzelVarious1999–2000Jörg BundschuhVarious2001, 2006Roland "Rollo" MaierBallad singers2003–2004Heike SchoberMaraike1993–1994Peter CwielagSchlunz1996–1997Joachim KretzerGuy de Rigault2009–2010Daniela KieferValentina Visconti & Queen Margaret2009, 2014Susanne SzellTine, Sophia by Pomerania Wolgast2012, 2015Thomas KornackShort2013–2014Bianca WarnekBaroness Ewa, Tetta tom Brok2016, 2017Carin AbichtVarious1993Cersten JacobNightwatchman Wehmeier1994Grit StephanOrka tom Broke1995Ivette RichterFrauke tom Broke1996Hans HartzBallad singers2002Jenny JürgensLady Ann2005Gerit KlingCountess van Dooren2006Vanida KarunMiranda2006Jan BaakeHisko von Emden, water carrier, lead-wolter2006Christina KraftAgnes2007Nadja KruseKatarina2008Heiko SchendelCouncillor & City Guard2012Hans HohlbeinMüller2012Sarah HannemannAnn-Marie2013Anna Lena ClassElisabeth2014Marco MatthesEdwin Westhoff2014Hans H. SteinbergHinrik Westhoff2014Anika LehmannNadeshda2015Marco BahrKonrad von Jungingen2016Nicolas KönigSimon von Ütrecht2017Philipp RichterThe Kleene2017Heinrich RolfingHenry van Ostergard2017Volker ZackThe Kleenesince 2018Sina-Valeska JungSelma, Queen Margaret2018Thomas ZieschVarioussince 2018Nicola RufDorothea von Achenbach2018Frank RichartzAydan2018Greta Galisch de PalmaSmilla2019Krista BirknerQueen of Denmark2019
Performances since 1993 PlaytimeCycleDurationTitleDirectorPerformancesVisitors1.I.3 July - 29 August 1993How to become a pirate (Wie einer Pirat wird)Roland Oehme5878,0602.2 July - 28 August 1994Fight for Stockholm (Kampf um Stockholm)58136,9853.1 July - 26 August 1995Storm on Gotland (Sturm auf Gotland)57183,4294.22 June - 31 August 1996Pirates of the West Sea (Piraten der Westsee)61210,5905.21 June - 30 August 1997The Sword of the Executioner (Das Schwert des Henkers)62266,0996.II.20 June - 29 August 1998Broken Chains (Gesprengte Ketten)61244,7547.26 June - 4 September 1999The Victual Brothers (Die Vitalienbrüder)61292,4138.24 June - 2 September 2000The Crusaders (Die Kreuzritter)61296,9749.23 June - 1 September 2001Hamburg-Hanse-Henker61320,00710.III.22 June – 31 August 2002The Beach Robbers (Die Strandräuber)61281,64411.28 June – 6 September 2003The Wolf of the Seas (Der Wolf der Meere)Holger Mahlich61335,20812.26 June – 4 September 2004In the Sign of the Cross (Im Zeichen des Kreuzes)61340,42313.25 June - 10 September 2005Pirates before Britain (Piraten vor Britannien)67366,20014.24 June – 9 September 2006In Executioner's Hand (In Henkers Hand)67360,36615.IV.23 June – 8 September 2007Betrayed and sold (Verraten und verkauft)67335,31916.21 June – 6 September 2008The Sea Wolf (Der Seewolf)67377,91617.20 June – 5 September 2009Störtebekers Gold Part 1 - The Legacy (Das Vermächtnis)67394,76618.19 June – 4 September 2010Störtebekers Gold Part 2 - The Curse of the Moor (Der Fluch des Mauren)67381,85819.18 June – 3 September 2011Störtebekers Gold Part 3 - The Treasure of the Templars (Der Schatz der Templer)67360,09720.23 June – 8 September 2012Störtebeker's Death (Störtebekers Tod)67362,96321.V.22 June – 7 September 2013Beginning of a Legend (Beginn einer Legende)Kai Maertens67343,19022.21 June – 6 September 2014God's Friend (Gottes Freund)Peter Dehler67355,12523.20 June – 5 September 2015Enemy of the World (Aller Welt Feind)Thomas Schendel67357,18724.18 June – 3 September 2016On Life and Death (Auf Leben und Tod)67350,83625.24 June – 9 September 2017In the Shadow of Death (Im Schatten des Todes)Marco Bahr67338,30526.VI.23 June – 8 September 2018Call of Freedom (Ruf der Freiheit)67310,40527.22 June – 7 September 2019Oath of the Righteous (Schwur der Gerechten)67333,28928.19 June – 11 September 2022In the Face of the Wolf (Im Angesicht des Wolfes)73?29.24 June – 9 September 2023Gotland unter Feuer (Gotland under Fire)Louis Villinger & Cordula Jung??30.15 June – 31 August 2024Hamburg 1401??31.VII.28 June – 13 September 2025Privateers of the Seas (Freibeuter der Meere)??32.20 June – 5 September 2025Likedeeler??
Economic Situation
The number of visitors to the spectacle has increased significantly since 1993. In 2006, there was a small decrease in the number of visitors, which was also in line with the general trend in tourism figures on the island of Rügen and was due to the bad weather and the economic situation in Germany. In 2007, however, there was another increase and the 2008 season began with a significant increase in viewers.
Störtebeker Festspiele GmbH & Co. KG is a private family business that does not receive government subsidies and is co-financed by sponsors. The new media partner has been the NDR's.
Peter Hick has been theatre director of the Störtebeker Festspiele since 1993. His wife Ruth Hick and daughter Anna-Theresa Hick are managing directors of the company.
References
External links
Official website of the Störtebeker Festival,