The Town Musicians of Bremen

A family play by Philipp Löhle, based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
Music: Florian Schmid-Gahlen
Ages 5 and up, running time approx. 70 minutes, no interval

What do a donkey with a bad back, a hard-of-hearing dog, a short-sighted cat and an overweight rooster have in common? They're all facing the chop - literally. After a lifetime of toiling for their owners, they're rewarded with the axe. So off they go to Bremen, where the sun supposedly always shines and life is free. These musical early retirees look to the future with optimism, and can hardly believe their luck when they stumble upon a cosy cottage by the roadside. Its occupants - a thoroughly cowardly band of robbers - are sent fleeing by one terrifying song. And Bremen? Why bother going there when you've already found the best of friends?

Philipp Löhle's animal world sparkles with onomatopoeic wordplay and fast-paced situational comedy - an optimistic plea for more compassion in a performance-driven society. And for animals who, when it comes to humanity, have the edge on humans - or rather, the snout.

The director on the production: "I'm convinced that Löhle's Bremen Town Musicians are a perfect fit for the Festspiele Wangen, because they take a familiar fairy tale and turn it into a vivid, contemporary story. The play is uplifting, bridges generations, and promises a theatre visit that is as entertaining as it is moving. I love the Bremen Town Musicians - it tells a story of courage, community and new beginnings with wit and warmth. It reaches children and adults alike, and gains a special energy outdoors - which makes it ideal for Wangen."