Sommertheater Zittau — Romeo and Juliet at the Market Square

Shakespeare on the Market Square

When the premiere begins on June 13, 2026, Zittau's Market Square will become a stage: The Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau brings Shakespeare's eternal tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" as an open-air summer theatre into the heart of Upper Lusatia. A specially constructed grandstand for around 600 spectators offers a view of the Zittau Town Hall — its facade, built in Italian Renaissance style, will serve as the backdrop for the Verona story. The town hall balcony might be incorporated into the performance — a beautiful idea that allows the famous balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet to take place in real architecture.

Why Zittau? The Waldbühne is being renovated

The reason for the alternative venue is pragmatic: The Waldbühne Jonsdorf, which has hosted the GHT's summer theatre for decades, will undergo extensive renovation from autumn 2025 until summer 2027. Instead of a break, the theatre has decided to move the summer theatre to the town centre in 2026 (and likely 2027) — to Zittau's Market Square. This is a creative response to the construction phase: What would Shakespeare be like against the Renaissance backdrop of an Upper Lusatian old town? Answer: a unique theatrical experience that also attracts tourists and visitors who might not otherwise find their way to Jonsdorf.

The Production — Shakespeare Relocated to Verona

Romeo and Juliet — the tragedy of two lovers from feuding families (Capulets and Montagues) in Renaissance Verona — is one of Shakespeare's most performed plays. In an outdoor setting on a medieval market square, in front of a real Renaissance facade, the play gains a special authenticity. The directorial concept and the exact casting plan will be published on g-h-t.de in the weeks before the premiere. One thing is certain: the main roles of Juliet and Romeo will be played by actors from the GHT ensemble, supplemented by guest performers.

The Performances

The premiere is scheduled for June 13, 2026. Further performances will follow throughout the summer — the exact performance schedule will be published in the 2026 programme on g-h-t.de. Open-air theatre means weather dependency: in case of rain, the performance will move to an alternative venue or be postponed — tickets remain valid.

Zittau and the Upper Lusatia Region

The town of Zittau, with around 24,000 inhabitants, is located in the Görlitz district, in the far southeast of Germany — at the Dreiländereck (three-country corner) with Poland and the Czech Republic. It is known for its Renaissance architecture (the town hall is a prime example), its Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), and the famous Große Zittauer Fastentuch (Great Zittau Lenten Cloth, a medieval linen cloth created in 1472, housed in the Klosterkirche). The region provides access to the Zittauer Gebirge — a small but bizarre sandstone mountain range with rock formations like the Mönchsberg and hiking opportunities in both neighbouring countries.