Open-air stages in MV: Sonnenstart brings hope for a record number of spectators!

Open-air stages in MV: Sonnenstart brings hope for a record number of spectators!

This year's open-air theater season in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was a mixed blessing. July in particular treated the stages to a lot of rain – 18 days to be exact. This not only caused mud underfoot, but also a decline in viewer numbers. Peter Venzmer, the director of the Pirate Open Air in Grevesmühlen, is optimistic despite the weather-related challenges: “We are hoping for a strong final phase,” he explains. With sun and temperatures over 30 degrees that the German Weather Service (DWD) is predicting for the coming weeks, the numbers could definitely improve, according to Venzmer stern.de.

Last weekend, the last performance of the Müritz saga fell victim to the amount of rain, which organizer Nicole Düwell regrets. “Viewership is below average, but we have high hopes for the end of the month,” she says. The Störtebeker Festival on Rügen, one of the region's best-known attractions, also recorded lower visitor numbers. Managing director Anna-Theresa Hick emphasizes that for most of the festival's 30-year history there has not been a weather-related cancellation, which makes the situation particularly challenging this year. Their last performance is scheduled for September 13th stern.de.

Latest performances and audience numbers

August represents the final highlights of the season. On the last day of the month there will be action on three large open-air stages - the Störtebeker Festival in Ralswiek, the Vineta Festival in Zinnowitz and the Pirate Open Air in Grevesmühlen. The Störtebeker Festival offered 67 performances this year and impressed with up to 8,800 spectators per evening. “The piece ‘Hamburg 1401’ was very well received,” notes Hick, but he also has to report two accidents on stage welt.de.

Peter Venzmer can also look back on an impressive record: Since June 21st, 62 performances of the play “With Fire, Sword and Crucifix” have been shown, with up to 3,400 spectators per evening. However, there is no exact number of visitors to the open-air theaters, and advance sales also suggest some hope, as there are still a few tickets left for the last performance [welt.de].

Looking into the future

The results of the open-air theaters may be mixed, but the anticipation for the coming season is already noticeable. A new piece about Klaus Störtebeker, “Privateer of the Seas”, is being prepared for 2025. The organizers have high hopes of inspiring the audience again. The last performances in the region's remaining stages continue to promise excitement and a little outdoor adventure welt.de.