Marktspielsommer Bruck i.d.OPf.

Open-air theatre under a steel-and-glass roof

The Marktspielsommer is the annual summer season of the Kultur- und Festspielverein Bruck e.V. in Bruck i.d.OPf., Upper Palatinate. The venue is the open-air stage at the Bruck leisure centre — protected by a stylish steel-and-glass roof, ensuring performances can take place even in unpredictable weather. Its central location and technical facilities make the stage one of the best open-air performance venues in the northern Upper Palatinate.

2026: The Murder on the Orient Express

For the 2026 summer season, the association has chosen one of Agatha Christie's most famous works: The Murder on the Orient Express. The production transports the audience into the legendary express train, stuck in eternal ice: twelve suspects, each with their own secrets, and a murder that leads Detective Hercule Poirot on one of his most famous investigations.

Four performances in July

Based on past experience, the association typically schedules 4 performances in mid-July — the exact dates for 2026 will be communicated via the association's website and the local press. Venue: Open-air stage at the leisure centre, Bruck i.d.OPf.

The Patron

The patron for the 2026 season is Walter Jonas, Regional President of the Upper Palatinate. This patronage underscores the festival's regional significance — the Marktspielsommer has been one of the most important summer cultural events in the region for years.

Autumn Edition: God of Carnage

In addition to the summer play, the association will stage an autumn production in 2026: God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza — a sharp comedy about two couples who meet for a discussion after a children's dispute and inevitably descend into escalating verbal warfare. Venue: Heimat- und Bauernmuseum Mappach, a second unusual venue for the association.

Kultur- und Festspielverein Bruck e.V.

The association has been organizing the event for years as a voluntary theatre initiative. Previous productions included Western comedies ("Salloon", 2024) and French society comedies ("Le Prénom", 2024). The repertoire clearly shows a passion for experimentation — from classics to contemporary pieces.