The 'Einsiedler Welttheater'
Taking up the tradition of the medieval mysterious plays, The Great World Theatre by the Spanish writer Calderón de la Barca (1600 - 1681) was for the first time performed in 1924 on the abbey square by the population of Einsiedeln. Since then, the play has been staged every five years or so; the last time in 2007.
However, the plays of 2000 and 2007 were no longer the one by Calderón de la Barca but modernised versions now titled The 'Einsiedler Welttheater' (Einsiedeln world theatre) by the renowned Swiss writer Thomas Hürlimann. In both years the direction was in the hands of Volker Hesse.
Both performances received much acclaim by the critics as well as by the audience. More than half of the performances in 2000 were sold out and nearly 70,000 spectators saw the play.
The next Welttheater will take place in 2013 with Tim Krohn as author and Beat Fäh as director.
The 'Einsiedler Welttheater' 2007
Website of the 'World Theater Society