The Eferdinger Theaterkistl celebrates 30 years of playfulness

It was the rural youth theater group that got the ball rolling. “There were a lot of talented, interested people there,” remembers Manfred J. Schauer. He was already on stage at the time. Having outgrown the country youth, it was decided in 1993 to found something new, “their own theater group: the Eferdinger Theaterkistl”.

Of the currently around 50 theater enthusiasts, 20 founding members are still pulling together after 30 years. “We are very concerned with the details, from the set construction to the costumes and a very intensive role study. That’s what sets us apart,” says the full-time corporate and communications consultant.

Which play the audience can look forward to is decided democratically, among six members, who “nine months before the premiere are given several books. Then we discuss it and we work together to come up with a piece and the cast.” Four months before the day of the premiere, the hot rehearsal phase begins, with performances two to three times a week. “We’ll definitely get 30 to 40 rehearsals. That’s quite a lot, but that’s also what we aspire to, which also brings the players together off the stage, not least for joint visits to the theater in Linz, Vienna or other theaters in Upper Austria. This is very important for all of us. The friendship and the passion for the theater accompany us.”

What is the attraction of the stage for him personally? “The most beautiful thing is certainly slipping into other roles and embodying them, from the body language, facial expressions, intonation to the emotional life of the role. It’s always a challenge and it’s nice when it succeeds.”

Since the reputation “Manfred, we can give you any role” precedes him in the Theaterkistl ensemble, this time he will be given a special one: In Winnie Abel’s comedy “Jubel, Trubel, Vanity” he will be up to mischief as a marriage swindler. He laughs heartily: “It’s relatively easy for me to slip into the roles, even if I don’t embody them as much in society.” That’s what makes the magic of the theater so special.

“We also have serious pieces in our repertoire. But it’s important to us that we can entertain people, especially in times like these. “Whereby: “Rough village stage is not our claim, but cultivated, good entertainment with class”, which the audience can look forward to from March 18th may. With “jubilation, hustle and bustle, vanity” it is kidnapped this time to a beauty clinic. There, in a sociotope of different characters, said marriage swindler has fled, after all, contract killers are after him. But: Only the lifeblood for the theater will flow on the stage.

Info: Bräuhaus Eferding, March 18, 7:30 p.m. (premier); further dates:
25, 31 March, 1 April, 7.30 p.m.; March 19, 6 p.m., March 26, 4 p.m.; Cards: 0664 / 75 10 13 10 (from 6 p.m.) and banks, “Mode & Wollen” and warehouse in
Eferding, www.theaterkistl.at