The Town Musicians of Bremen - Premiere

A family play by Philipp Löhle based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
Music: Florian Schmid-Gahlen
From age 5, duration approx. 70 minutes, no intermission

What do a donkey with back pain, a hard-of-hearing dog, a nearsighted cat, and a fat rooster have in common? Right - they're all facing the end. They've worked for humans their whole lives, and how are they rewarded? With an axe! So off to Bremen they go, where the sun always shines and life is free. Our musical early retirees look optimistically toward the future and can hardly believe their luck when they discover a pretty cottage by the roadside. Its inhabitants, a timid band of robbers, are sent fleeing by a terrifying song. And Bremen? Why look for Bremen when you've already found your best friends?

Philipp Löhle's animal world gleams with onomatopoetic wit and fast-paced situational comedy. An optimistic plea for more compassion in a performance-driven society. And for animals that are ahead of the game when it comes to humanity - pardon me, snout.

The director on the play: "I'm convinced that Löhle's Town Musicians of Bremen fit perfectly with Festspielen Wangen because they transform a well-known fairy tale into a lively, contemporary story. The play gives courage, brings generations together, and promises both an entertaining and touching theatre experience. I'm very fond of the Town Musicians of Bremen because the play tells with wit and heart about courage, community, and setting out. This story reaches both children and adults alike and unfolds a special power especially under the open sky - so perfect for Wangen."