How does the Nibelungen Festival in Worms come about? Who transforms Worms Cathedral into an impressive backdrop? What do the actors do shortly before the performance? And where are the legendary props made? We took a look behind the scenes of the festival and even uncovered the secret of the Treasure of the Nibelungs during our backstage tour.
History retold told
The Nibelungen Festival in Worms was founded in 2002 and has continued the story of the famous heroic saga of Siegfried, Kriemhild, Brunhild and Hagen every summer since then. Thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage to the imperial cathedral to experience high-quality premieres and exciting new productions of the material with renowned German film and theater actors.
A multifaceted cultural program with readings, concerts and exhibitions completes the festival, whose charisma reaches far beyond the borders of Rheinhessen. With a Backstage tour today we want to take a look behind the scenes of this fascinating world.
Festival at your fingertips
This much in advance: what happens offstage is no less exciting than what happens onstage. Our backstage guide first shows us the workshop, which is housed in the garage of the Worms industrialist family Heyl's home.
A stage builder is currently boiling blood and presents us with his favorite props. They are all produced here on site. Over our partly shocked faces at the sight of the (artificial) pig's head, he has to laugh. pig's head, he has to laugh.
Generally, there is a lot of laughter backstage. The experienced team is made up of more or less the same people every year: "It's like a class reunion, you look forward to each other weeks in advance."
We stand directly in front of the stage and view the boards that mean the world from a whole new perspective. Everything seems so close and tangible. We can smell the mud that is stored in large barrels next to the stage entrance and is stirred anew every evening after the performance. 15 buckets of 45 liters of grave earth are ready and waiting for their muddy use.
Stuff for legends
Speaking of mud ... The costume designers take care after each performance that the robes and skins of Brunhild and Co. look like new again. After seeing the huge mud buckets, we can imagine how much work that must be. As carefully and neatly as the costumes hang here next to each other, one doesn't even get the idea that each costume of each performer exists only once.
We also take a look at the makeup and, in addition to the huge selection of makeup, marvel at the elaborate wigs that are waiting for their next use on Styrofoam heads. With the current hot summer temperatures, the ladies and gentlemen with tousled synthetic hair are really not to be envied.
The secret main role
Time and again, we can look out from backstage at the sandstone façade of the Kaiserdom. The church is firmly integrated into the stage set for all productions and thus plays the secret starring role of the Nibelungen Festival.
Depending on which side the stage set is built on, the perspective and possibilities are always different. The north portal, for example, offers space for a larger stage than the south portal or the west choir. According to our guide, it is particularly beautiful when the facade of the cathedral comes to life thanks to modern light installations and is actively integrated into the events on stage.
During the festival period, the cathedral is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. open for visitors. After that, the carillon will fall silent and only actors and camera actors and cameramen, when individual scenes of the production are played in the are played inside the church and transmitted to the outside via video screen.
Following the Nibelungen Festival, the sandstone, which is typical of Rheinhessen, is thoroughly cleaned every year, and all traces of the theater are removed. Then the cathedral shines in new splendor and can look forward to its next use.
The true Nibelungen treasure
We discovered and learned an incredible amount. At the end of the tour, our guide even reveals the secret of the legendary Nibelungen treasure: "The greatest treasure in Worms - it's the people!"
The people of Worms who so enthusiastically support the festival each year carry. The 20,000 or so visitors who fill the Nibelungen program with life. The 120 or so employees who have put their heart and soul into this project for many years. project for many years. And the regularly wonderful ensemble, which fits seamlessly into the the Worms community spirit and shines artistically.
Many actors felt so comfortable in Worms that they returned again and again - for example, to help organize the supporting program, but also to visit the landlords of their apartments in private.
Backstage tour book
If you now want to take a look behind the scenes of the open-air stage yourself, you can book a Book backstage tour (8 euros per person). You will get an exclusive insight into the prop workshop, the costume and make-up area and can see the stage construction of the Nibelungen Festival from a whole new perspective.
Tip: We saw the production before our backstage tour, so we were able to pay close attention to various backstage details, remember many costumes and props, and ask specific questions.
Wine and games
The backstage tour is by no means the only highlight in the Games' supporting program. Every summer, the Heylshof Park next to Worms Cathedral is transformed into one of Germany's most beautiful open-air foyers with atmospheric illumination and relaxed live music. Here you can taste a glass of Rheinhessen wine or Rheinhessen sparkling wine before the production and enjoy the Dinner in the park culinary pampering.
Overwhelming: The Nibelungen Festival 2019
This year, the northern side of Worms Cathedral will once again be the focus of the production. None other than Klaus Maria Brandauer will play the leading role of Hagen in the World premiere "Overwhelming" by Thomas Melle take over. In his play, the author retells the story of the Nibelungen and asks whether the notorious saga could not have a completely different, better ending. We are curious!
