Theatrum Mundi — Civic Theatre Play for the 1050th Anniversary of Bruchsal

A City Anniversary as a Stage

1050 years of Bruchsal — in May 2026, this will not be celebrated with a classic ceremony, but with an unusual open-air civic theatre. The Badische Landesbühne (BLB), Bruchsal's state theatre, is staging 'Theatrum Mundi', a station theatre in the Bürgerpark that turns the entire city's history into a stage – from creation and the ancient Brusciallum to the episcopal city in the Kraichgau.

Station Theatre Instead of a Main Stage

Instead of a single stage, visitor groups of 50 people will wander through the park, encountering different scenes at various stations – performed by Bruchsal clubs, schools, and choirs. Participants include the musical class of the Konrad-Adenauer-Schule, the gospel choir from Forst, a wind ensemble, and a senior citizens' home. The format is reminiscent of medieval mystery plays and transforms the park into a theatrical space with historical depth on the last weekend of May.

Bruchsal — Episcopal City in the Kraichgau

With around 45,000 inhabitants, Bruchsal is located in the Karlsruhe district, at the transition from the Kraichgau to the Rhine plain, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. First mentioned in 976 AD – when Charlemagne was already dead and the Holy Roman Empire was still young – Bruchsal was the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Speyer for centuries. Balthasar Neumann's Baroque palace is a testament to this. 'Theatrum Mundi' picks up on these layers and makes the city its own heroine.

Civic Theatre as Identity Formation

The BLB has extensive experience with large-scale civic formats: 'Theatrum Mundi' has already been adapted for other cities, with each production tailored to the respective local history. For Bruchsal, this will be Tour number 27 – indicating how many cities the BLB has already theatricalized. Admission to the guided tours is via Reservix; individual modules such as concerts and evening chill-outs are freely accessible.