Back then in the same role

50 years of amateur theater with a fervent passion

"Der eingebildeter Kranke" Martin Jarmer (center) with theater legends Walter Wunderer - who played the same role 50 years ago - and chairwoman Elfriede Jordan, who has been with the association for 49 years.(Bild: Irene Tutschek)

The Eggenburg theater group from the Waldviertel region can look back on an impressive 50 years. At the age of 76, "theater prodigy" Walter Wunderer has now been on the amateur stage for half a century. 

"The Imaginary Invalid" celebrated a very special premiere in Eggenburg yesterday. This is because the theater group performed exactly the same play 50 years ago when it was founded. In that time, the association has an impressive record: "Around 60 plays have been performed at 17 different venues with 207 people. Three people have been on board for 49 years," says chairwoman Elfriede Jordan, who has been with the group for that long herself. 642 roles have been successfully cast by the Eggenburg theater group in these 50 years. 

More than 100 people have also been involved in the amateur dramatics group, which has also performed twelve times at the Medieval Festival, held five readings and taken part in three carnival sessions and a neighborhood opening.

The passion for Walter Wunderer
Founding member Walter Wunderer (76) is back on stage as the "Theaterwunder" and has plenty of episodes to tell. This year - just like 50 years ago - he is playing the role of Dr. Thomas Diafoirus. "I've probably memorized the lines well, I didn't have to learn much," he says. There are still performances today and in June.

Further performances in June
Information & tickets are available on 0677/64005187 and on the homepage theatergruppeeggenburg.at. Performances are still scheduled for Friday, June 7, 8 pm, Saturday, June 8, 8 pm, Sunday, June 9, 7 pm, Friday, June 28, 8 pm, Saturday, June 29, 8 pm and Sunday, June 30, 7 pm on the open-air stage of the former furniture factory in Eggenburg.