Planet party principle

Ghost train ride in the Schloßberg like a 5D movie theater

"Ghost Train" with David Valentek, Moritz Ostanek, Alexander Benke, Martin Brachvogel and Yvonne Klamant(Bild: Clemens Nestroy)

Planetenparty Prinzip and Follow the Rabbit are currently offering a sensual but not at all scary journey into the interior of Graz's Schloßberg with "Geisterbahn". Further dates until January 26.

It's tempting to turn the Graz fairytale train in the Schloßbergstollen, which doesn't really have much to offer in the way of spookiness, into a ghost train. Instead of horror grimaces and scary moments, however, the Graz-based theater makers from Planetenparty Prinzip and Follow the Rabbit play with the audience's senses.

Train driver Martin Brachvogel only actually stirs up fear with his trigger warning at the beginning: anyone who is afraid of the dark or claustrophobic still has sixty seconds to get off the train. But everyone remains seated in the small, uncomfortable carriages and the train chugs off into absolute darkness.

Floating in the darkness
Deprived of sight, you float through the tunnel. Was it ten minutes or twenty? The excitement is all the greater when red eyes suddenly appear on the horizon and come ever closer. They float past the audience, but the spook is over as soon as the lights come on and the ensemble (David Valentek, Moritz Ostanek, Alexander Benke, Martin Brachvogel and Yvonne Klamant) appear in bellboy costumes.

The actors recount anecdotes, appear as moving images in the niches of the tunnels and make points of light dance across the walls: These are magical moments that are only made more exciting by a cocktail of smells. In terms of content, the ride only hints at it, but it's worth getting on board.