Störtebeker Festival 2025: A fan fights for his little hero

Störtebeker Festival 2025: A fan fights for his little hero

The anticipation of the 30th season of the Störtebeker Festival on the island of Rügen is big. From June 28th to September 13th, 2025, the most exciting stories about Klaus Störtebeker will come to life on one of the largest open-air stages in Europe in Ralswiek. The mix of spectacular stunts, elaborate costumes and captivating narratives promises to captivate viewers. This year the theme is “buccaneers of the seas” and the number of actors is impressive: over 150 participants, including 30 horses and 4 ships, contribute to the spectacular experience.

As the Baltic Sea newspaper reports, the Störtebeker Festival is not only a cultural highlight, but also captivates the entire audience. Bruno Apitz, a loyal fan from Dierhagen, is one of the passionate supporters who regularly attend the dress rehearsals. Since 2008 he has been enthusiastic about the performances and dreams of an acting career. The warm relationship between actors and fans makes this festival something very special, especially for the youngest spectators.

Outstanding staging

This season the play “Hamburg 1401” is being staged, which tells the painful story of Klaus Störtebeker, who is executed. Director Louis Villinger presents a piece that shows Störtebeker in a deep identity crisis. Lead actor Moritz Stephan embodies the doubting hero. The production deals with plots that Natalia von Beieren and Simon von Utrecht spin against Störtebeker. Wolfgang Lippert will be on stage again as a ballad singer and will enchant the audience with new and classic songs.

The performances are characterized by an opulent production: dramatic moments, a sea battle, a burning mill and dream sequences give the story an unmistakable spice. The beautiful backdrop, which is rounded off with a changeable stage set and an impressive fireworks display over the Great Jasmunder Bodden, makes every evening an unforgettable experience.

Urgent issues and personal fates

But in addition to the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the festival, there are also serious issues in the region. Of the NDR We already reported on Lio, a four-year-old boy from Putbus who is seriously ill and suffering from a brain tumor. His parents still try to give him as much joy as possible and have sought advice from the “ Sternenbrücke ” hospice in Hamburg to ensure that he has a bearable time. It remains to be hoped that such stories will not be forgotten in the shadow of the festival.

The festival also focused on a combination of culture and technology: The Welz law firm in Stralsund introduced an artificial intelligence called “Marie” that summarizes incoming calls and sends the content to the lawyers. This innovative system is intended to help optimize work processes without endangering jobs.

In the meantime, there are also local heroes who deserve recognition. As part of the OZ Firefighter Hero/Firefighter Heroine 2025 campaign, the finalists were announced who can vote for the title until July 16th. Almost 5,000 votes have already been cast and the region can be proud of the nominations of Tim Nahrstedt, Anne Berner, Michael Homuth and Gregor Wedig.

The Störtebeker Festival is not just a national event, it is a symbol of solidarity, joy and also of the inevitable challenges that many people overcome every day. Preparations are in full swing, and the first performances promise to win the hearts of many viewers in the summer of 2025.