Kobersdorf Castle Games: "Noises Off" Celebrates Triumphant Premiere

What the audience in the sold-out auditorium saw is, according to the reaction of those attending, pure chaos – and that is precisely the point. In his play, Frayn presents a theater troupe that, during rehearsals for a trivial crime comedy, does everything to get the performance onto the stage despite countless mishaps – and fails. Slapstick interludes, botched entrances and exits, and a continually collapsing stage set ensure a whirl of verbal wit and pace that, according to OE24, swept the audience into cries of "Bravo" and seemingly endless applause.

Chaos as the Point: What "Noises Off" Is About

„Was für ein Theater im Theater: ‚Nackter Wahnsinn' in Kobersdorf begeistert Bravo-Rufe, Applaus, der nicht enden will, begeisterte Menschen, die sich am Weg zum Parkplatz über die Slapstick-Einlagen auf der Bühne austauschen und nicht sofort den Stand von Frankreich gegen Schweden bei der Fußball-WM abrufen", describes OE24 the mood on premiere night. Apparently, for many guests, glancing at their phone screens was more important than the ongoing World Cup match between France and Sweden – an indication of how thoroughly the production captivated the audience.

The direction is in the hands of Claus Tröger, who is no stranger to Kobersdorf. As recently as 2022, he caused a stir there with his production of "Der Bockerer"; now he is putting the ensemble through their paces in what is by now roughly his 195th production at the Schloss-Spiele. Alongside Böck are Jo Bertl, Jens Claßen, Walter Ludwig, Marie Cécile Nest, Boris Popović, Sophie Prusa, Mirko Roggenbock, and Alexandra-Maria Timmel. Together, they portray a theater troupe collectively in despair on stage and behind the scenes – for a full 130 minutes.

Director Claus Tröger and His Ensemble

Anyone seeking a quiet counterpoint to the chaos on stage before the performance can visit Kobersdorf's former synagogue on every performance evening. According to the organizer, it is open free of charge for viewing between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. – an architectural testament to the town's Jewish history that offers a quiet glimpse into the past before the theater evening.

Former Synagogue as a Quiet Prelude

For the Schloss-Spiele, the premiere evening followed a difficult previous year, during which the house had attracted media attention primarily through a change at the top, and from the audience's perspective appeared to be an unqualified success. The mix of British slapstick, fast-paced direction, and an ensemble eager to perform struck a chord – and whets the appetite for the upcoming performances in the Burgenland summer program.

Ticket sales for the current season are underway according to the organizer; further performances of "Noises Off" will follow in the coming weeks on Kobersdorf's open-air stage.

The Kobersdorf Venue: A Summer Magnet in Burgenland

Alongside the artistic success, the premiere report also points to the special atmosphere of the venue: the combination of an open-air stage, a historic ensemble, and proximity to Vienna and Lake Neusiedl makes Kobersdorf a magnet in the summer months for theatergoers from all across eastern Austria and beyond.