Summer theater in Bochum: Romeo and Juliet” conquers the castle park!

Summer theater in Bochum: Romeo and Juliet” conquers the castle park!

On July 3, 2025, a special performance will celebrate its premiere in Bochum's Weitmar Castle Park: Folkwang third-year drama students will present William Shakespeare's masterpiece “Romeo and Juliet”. This production is part of the Folkwang Summer Theater 2025, which is supported by Stadtwerke Bochum as a “future project” for three years. The artistic endeavors are also supported by the Gelsenwasser Foundation and the Anneliese Brost Foundation. The premiere begins at 8 p.m., followed by further performances until July 13, each at 6 p.m. Admission is free and audiences can bring their own seating, giving the traditional open-air theater a special atmosphere.

The Folkwang students are faced with the challenge of making Shakespeare's highly poetic language tangible for the audience. The director is the experienced Jürgen Hartmann, who will take on a visiting professorship for practical theater work at Folkwang University from the winter semester of 2024|25. The project is supported dramaturgically by Professor Gerold Theobalt. The stage and costumes were designed by Franziska Gebhardt, while the musical background was composed by Folkwang graduate Yotam Schlezinger. Choral work and fight choreography are also integral parts of this production, directed by Ulrike Schubert and Thomas Ziesch.

Tradition and revival

The performances of Shakespeare in the Park have a long tradition in Bochum, stretching from 1993 to 2008. After a break, they were revived in 2022, and since then the spectacular displays have enjoyed great popularity. Last year, 10,000 spectators attended the performances in Weitmar Castle Park. This return to the roots of outdoor theater and the continued enthusiasm for the great British playwright's classic works is a sign of the region's cultural vitality.

The Folkwang Summer Theater not only offers the audience a musical performance, but also the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of Shakespeare's drama. “Romeo and Juliet” is considered one of the most famous lovers in literary history and deals with timeless themes such as passionate love and social boundaries, which are also very relevant today.

Summer festival and other activities

The summer theater is not just limited to the performances, but is also part of a larger summer festival that starts on July 5th. This day will be richly organized with workshops, museum tours and jazz music in the Weitmar Castle Park, which start at 10 a.m. As part of the summer festival, the students will show scenes from “Romeo and Juliet” in the exhibition “Half a Life” in the underground museum between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. This cooperation between the Situation Kunst / Museum underground and the Ruhr University Bochum shows the university's commitment to a lively, interdisciplinary cultural performance.

Such creative initiatives not only keep Shakespeare's work alive, but also promote the connection between art, education and audiences. Above all, the opportunity to experience acting in the open air is in keeping with the tradition of the theater and is valued by the community.

For more information and details about the event, visit the relevant pages Folkwang University, Outgoing.de as well as the Shakespeare Society.