Oberammergau's Passion Play

5/17/20106:49:12 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

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Oberammergau's Passion Play was first performed in 1634. Threatened by the plague, the villagers vowed to put on a play about the "Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ" every 10 years. They survived and have kept their promise ever since.

And it is still a communal effort. On a backstage tour of the 4,800-seat Passion Play Theatre,only those who were born or have lived in Oberammergau for 20 years are allowed to take part." Half the population, about 2,500, is involved in acting and playing in the orchestra, set-building and sewing costumes. The crowd scenes are huge. As many as 900 people are on the open-air stage at one time.

Visiting Oberammergau

If you go this autumn,