Erdinger Passion 2026: Seeholzer turns back time with a new poster!

Erdinger Passion 2026: Seeholzer turns back time with a new poster!

A very special event is coming up in the tranquil town of Erding in spring 2026: the Erdinger Passion. The parish of St. Johannes and the Altenerding folk play group cordially invite the population to this touching piece, which celebrates not only the biblical story, but also the community in Erding. Rehearsals for the spectacle are already in full swing and promise exciting insights into the modern interpretation of the Passion.

A highlight of the performance will be Harry Seeholzer, the first mayor of Erding. He slips into the role of the unbelieving Thomas and has even created his own picture on the subject of the Passion, which was bought by an anonymous donor and given to the church community. This art motif adorns the announcement poster, which was designed by Michael Lang, a graphic artist from Langengeisling. “I’m honored that you want me to be there,” said Seeholzer, grateful for his commitment during the rehearsals.

A modern reference to passion

The piece, rewritten by Renate Eßbaumer, aims to give viewers a contemporary access to the classic story. In total, around 50 people will take part in the passion play, which takes place on Good Friday and three Friday evenings. The individual parts of the Passion story are embedded in the word services of the city parish church, which gives the whole thing a solemn setting.

The church administration is also supportive and is providing a generous 2,000 euros for the implementation of the project. The idea for the performances came from Pastor Martin Garmaier, whose vision laid the foundation for this cultural highlight.

A look beyond the borders

The tradition of passion plays is deeply rooted in Germany and beyond. A well-known example is the Oberammergau Passion Play, which has been performed in Bavaria every ten years since 1634. At that time, the villagers made a vow to maintain their tradition after they were spared from the plague. Since then, this monumental event has attracted visitors from all over the world and offers an impressive reenactment of Jesus' last days. Every year between 420,000 and 530,000 people flock to the small village to experience the performance.

However, the Oberammergau performances have also had to contend with challenges - criticism of anti-Semitic elements led to profound changes and increased dialogue with Jewish organizations, especially after the Second World War.

The Erdinger Passion, albeit in a different setting, reflects the desire of many communities to promote not only faith but also community through art. It remains exciting to see how the Erdingers will bring the biblical story to the stage in a modern guise and what emotions this will evoke in the audience.

The performances of the Erdinger Passion are a sign that tradition and modernity can go hand in hand - and anticipation for the piece is growing in the city.