Rathen open-air theatre – the finest natural stage in Saxon Switzerland

The Rathen open-air theatre, a natural outdoor theatre (literally: it has a stage cut from rock), was erected in 1936, starting with the "Bastei Play" by K. A. Findeisen. In those days the actors cast were almost entirely recruited from the village people. Until it had to be closed due to the Second World War in 1942, plays like Shakespeare’s Mid Summernight’s Dream or Weber’s Freischütz were enjoyed by thousands of visitors.

A major part of the summer programme was dedicated to the Saxon author Karl May who fathered Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, the main characters of dozens of his adventure novels which became popular all over the world.

After having been host to various Dresden theatres, the Felsenbühne has been performing at the Landesbühnen Sachsen, the state-owned theatre of Saxony, since 1954.

Today the audience is offered a wide range of productions covering opera, drama, children’s plays as well as concerts of different genres.

The theatre is located in Saxon Switzerland close to Dresden. Apart from arriving by car (app. 90 min. from Dresden), or by train (app. 45 min. from Dresden), you may also travel by steamboat on the River Elbe and experience a variety of marvellous scenery. A more challenging option is to go by bike along the banks of the river Elbe where a newly built cycle track passing Kurort Rathen leads from Dessau to Bad Schandau (260 km).

Tickets:

Ticket prices range from 2€ to 20€ with discounts given to children, students, senior citizens, disabled people and groups of 21 to 51 persons. Tickets can be ordered by phone, fax or online and have to be collected at the ticket booth half an hour prior to the performance.

More information can be found right here:

Felsenbühne Rathen
Amselgrund 17
01824 Kurort Rathen

www.felsenbuehne-rathen.de
Phone: +49 35024/ 7770
Fax: +49 35024/ 77735