Waldfestspiele Bad Kötzting

Folk Theatre in the Bavarian Forest

The Waldfestspiele Bad Kötzting are among the defining summer events in the Cham district and the entire Bavarian Forest. High above the spa town, nestled in the forest at Ludwigsberg, an ensemble of about 60 actors from four generations performs a literary classic every year – consistently translated into Bavarian dialect. This blend of world literature and dialect has long earned the festival recognition far beyond Bad Kötzting.

Classics in Bavarian Dialect – The Recipe for Success

The event is supported by the Festspielgemeinschaft Kötzting e.V., a well-established amateur ensemble association. Each year, a different play from the canon of European literature is selected and adapted for the open-air stage. Currently, director Sascha Edenhofer and dramaturg Sara Herbst are responsible for the adaptations – they not only translate the stories into Bavarian but also consistently tailor them to the stage at Ludwigsberg and the capabilities of the acting community.

The Stage at Ludwigsberg

The open-air stage at Ludwigsberg is a natural stage embedded in the forest with a covered spectator tribune. Lighting, live music, and the night forest as a backdrop create an atmosphere that is unique, unlike that of an urban theatre or a classic open-air arena. Performances begin in the late evening and gain a special impact as darkness falls.

Rooted in Kötzting and the Bavarian Forest

The Waldfestspiele are part of the so-called Festival Summer in the Bavarian Forest, a network of open-air and castle plays in the region (including Furth im Wald, Cham). For Bad Kötzting itself – also known for its Whitsun Ride (Pfingstritt) – the Waldfestspiele are a cultural constant in the summer program, alongside its spa and tourism offerings.

2026 Program – Don Quijote

For the 2026 season, the ensemble will tackle Miguel de Cervantes' 'Don Quijote' – one of the oldest novels in world literature, presented here in a Bavarian stage version. Edenhofer and Herbst promise 'entertaining dialogues, adventurous encounters, and a touch of melancholy' against the impressive natural backdrop at Ludwigsberg.

• Stage: Open-air stage at Ludwigsberg, Bad Kötzting
• Language: Bavarian stage version
• Direction / Adaptation: Sascha Edenhofer, Sara Herbst
• Ensemble: around 60 actors of all generations