Störtebeker Festival: Pirate saga thrills 8,000 spectators on Rügen

Störtebeker Festival: Pirate saga thrills 8,000 spectators on Rügen

The premiere of the Störtebeker Festival with the title “Privateers of the Seas” took place in Ralswiek on the picturesque island of Rügen. On June 28, 2025, the first performances attracted around 8,000 spectators, although the place was not completely sold out. But the enthusiasts were thrilled by the atmosphere and the very special flair of the festival. As the Baltic Sea newspaper reports, the so-called “Störtebeker magic” is particularly appreciated by visitors.

This year's festival takes place as part of the VIIth cycle of plays and runs until September 13th, every Monday to Saturday at 8:00 p.m. The performance offers an impressive spectacle with over 150 performers, 30 horses and 4 ships, combined with breathtaking stunts and special effects. If you are looking for more information about the Störtebeker Festival and the exciting program, you can take a look at the official website: stoertebeker.de.

Audience reviews

The audience at the premiere agreed: the piece offers a lot of action. A viewer from Brandenburg, Tobias Frese, highlighted the fight between Klaus Störtebeker and Goedeke Michels as a particular favorite scene. Noel Fildebrandt from Rügen praised the impressive explosions during the performance. What is particularly noteworthy is that Mandy and Ines from Dresden raved enthusiastically about the atmosphere and the main actor from Radebeul.

Another aspect that visitors noticed was the positive response to the horses and costumes, especially from Silke Oelschläger and her daughter Soraya from Halle an der Saale, who have been regular guests at the festival for at least six years. Of course, such experiences do not come without challenges: departure proved problematic due to overcrowded conditions at the roundabout at Ralswieker Hafen. The new parking regulations also meant that coaches had to pick up their guests in the town center, which led to chaotic conditions. A bus driver complained about the lack of clear information about departures.

An evening full of highlights

The premiere began with an opening speech by the Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. A special highlight was Wolfgang Lippert, who thrilled the audience with his songs – both new and classic. The roles of the blind servant Gottfried and the boatswain Gunnar were also played with great bravura by Volker Wackermann.

Overall, the course of the evening shows that the Störtebeker Festival is writing another exciting chapter. The fireworks over the Great Jasmunder Bodden at the end of each performance round off the evening perfectly and allow the audience to return to the night with fantastic memories. Anyone who would like to be part of this exciting spectacle has until September 13th to do so.

For further information and ticket bookings, visit the festival website: nordkurier.de.