Schäferlauf Markgröningen 2026 - Festspiel, Der treue Bartel

Festspiel "Der treue Bartel" (The Faithful Bartel)

The play "Der treue Bartel" has always been part of the Markgröningen Schäferlauf festival. The version performed today traces back to a widely acclaimed premiere in 2011: Markgröningen singer, actor and director Matthias Eckert - himself a long-serving villain Vogt in the ensemble - revised Albert Esenwein's time-honoured piece and wove in five songs written by Georg ter Voert (Bartel Musical, 2009), performed live by the cast.

The story is set during the Crusades. The Count of Gröningen is fighting in the Holy Land alongside the Emperor - and in his absence, greedy villains, led by the Vogt, scheme to enrich themselves. When the shepherd Bartel refuses to play along, they slander him before the returning Count. The Count puts his faithful servant to the test by disguising himself as a butcher and offering him a shady deal. Bartel's indignant refusal exposes the real criminals - and his daughter Kätterle finds her happiness too.

Overall direction: Matthias Eckert | Director: Christina Enders | Music and lyrics: Georg ter Voert

Cast: Martin Hoppe (Emperor), Nic Lakowitz (Count), Norbert Kretschmer (Shepherd Bartel), Peter Maier (Vogt), Marc Lehmann (Shepherd's hand Johann), Ingo Lakowitz (Chamberlain Francesco), Wolfgang Bernert (Castle chaplain), Sascha Wanitzek (Groom), Jennifer Maierhofer (Kätterle, Bartel's daughter), Melanie Lieber (Rickele, Kätterle's friend), Onofrio Di Franco, Uli Nagengast, Sebastian Sinz (Landsknecht trio)

Live music: Alban Wekwnmann (guitar), plus dancing girls, landsknechts, knights, shepherd children, shepherd music, drummers and pipers of the Stadtkapelle Markgröningen | Lighting and sound: Norbert Meier | Stage design: Zanko Radic