Oberammergau

Where is Oberammergau?

Oberammergau is a small village in the Bavarian Alps near Germany’s border with Austria.

In the winter of 1632 the village was struck by the Black Plague, which spread devastation through Europe.

The village elders called all those who could walk to  the church and everyone made a vow: “A solemn promise to devote one year in 10 to the preparation and presentation of the tragedy of our Lord’s Passion to keep the Christian principle of the redemption of the world before men for all time”.

Apart from the occasional lapse due in the main to wars , the village people of Oberammergau have presented their Passion Play every 10 year. The first performance was held in the church in 1634. Nowadays a huge theatre, looking rather like a great aircraft hangar  is used. It seats 6,000 people and has room on the stage for crowd scenes with 500 actors. Only native-born villagers may be considered for the 600 parts in the play.Selection for the principal parts is made by ballot more than 12 months before the performance. Rehearsals begin in may for the first performance in May of the following year.

The Passion Play has given Oberammergau worldwide renown and visitors travel long distances to see the eight-hour play.

The play is divided into episodes. These episodes are introduced by the Passion chorus, which consists of fifty singers.

The whole community becomes involved in the production in a completely medieval way.