Theatergruppe Wald

The theatre group Wald e.V. is an amateur theatre group from Wald in the district of Ostallgäu in Bavarian Swabia. The first records of theatre performances date back to 1910.

History

The theatre tradition in Wald began in 1910 with the performances of "Die Räuber auf Maria Kulm und Ida von Toggenburg", historical plays staged in the Gasthaus Zur Post under the direction of Xaver Eberle. The first stage constructions were provisional, consisting of a platform made of beer crates and stage boards supplied by a carpenter, while the scenery was provided free of charge by a master painter. Everything else, including the costumes, was provided by the company itself. According to the chronicle, 380 people attended the first three performances. Eberle staged three more plays before the outbreak of war in 1914.

In 1921 a new theatre group was formed from the boys' club. The performances took place in the hall of the Koch inn, the clubhouse of the Burschenverein. Financial problems and stage conditions were a challenge. From 1926 there was a gradual transition to popular plays, including rural farmer and poacher plays. In 1934 the group moved to the Gasthaus zur Post, which had a new 200-seat hall with a stage. The first performance on this new stage in 1935 was a great success, with over 800 people in attendance. However, theatre in the Third Reich became increasingly difficult due to Nazi censorship, and only three more plays were staged before 1938. The Second World War and the destruction of the stage by invading troops initially paralysed the theatre.

In 1954 the theatre resumed its activities in the Gasthaus Post. With the construction of a permanent stage in the new school gymnasium, where plays were performed every year until 1960, the theatre group reached a record attendance of 1420 spectators with the play "Der Wilderer von Bayrischzell". Despite interruptions due to director changes and renovations, the theatre performances continued.

In 1990 the Wald Theatre Group joined the Bavarian Amateur Theatre Association. In 1994, the play "Die wilde Hilde" set a new attendance record with 1,812 spectators in ten performances and marked a reorientation towards boulevard comedies in the choice of plays. In 2000, on the occasion of its 90th anniversary, the group became the registered non-profit association "Theatergruppe Wald e.V.".

In 2004 the theatre group moved to the "WaldHalla", a new building for sports and cultural associations, which served as its venue from then on.