- Reith im Alpbachtal
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Reither St. Nicholas Play
The original Old Reither Nikolausspiel - The Federal Music Band Reith im Alpbachtal has been carrying on an ancient tradition for decades.
If we are to believe the tradition, the first Nikolausspiel was performed in Reith as early as 1690. Despite all the modernization in everyday life, the play in Reith has remained what it has always been: a tradition. Nothing has been kitsched or modernized, yet the Reither Nikolausspiel has the same relevance today as it did hundreds of years ago. The Reither Nikolausspiel has probably been performed for over 300 years. Until 1919, it was performed as a parlor play in various farms, and since then it has been on stage. Nevertheless, it has not lost any of its charm, and for the Reith music band, it remains a traditional obligation to present this folk play every seven years.
To fully understand the Reither Nikolausspiel, the audience must adapt to the play and not vice versa. Since the performance refrains from modernizing the texts, it is not surprising if dialect words appear that even the actors today do not fully understand. But that is precisely what makes the Reither Nikolausspiel so intriguing. Due to its length, it is not possible to include all existing "pictures" in the play. Today's performances are based on the original manuscript by Jakob Feichtner, a farmer from Mejerhof, from the year 1875 and on a copy by Josef Hechenblaikner, known as "SchmidtnSeppl," from 1952. Alongside serious "figures" like Death, Angels, the Deceiver (Temptor), or Lucifer, who belong to the religious sphere, simple people also appear on stage, depicting scenes from everyday life of that time in often primitive, humorous form. The poor rise against the oppression by the rich and thereby powerful. Only in the final scene does St. Nicholas appear, already announced by the precursor and the three Turks, accompanied by an angel and the Klaubauf, justifying the title of the play.
Advance ticket sales starting November 4 online as well as at the tourism office Reith i. A. every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Ticket phone: Tel. +43 664 88680400
Admission: € 22,- (children up to 12 years free)
Date & time
DateSat., 29/11/2025
Sun., 30/11/2025
Tue., 02/12/2025
Thu., 04/12/2025
Sun., 07/12/2025
Mon., 08/12/2025
Fri., 12/12/2025
Sat., 13/12/2025
Sun., 14/12/2025
Wed., 17/12/2025
Fri., 19/12/2025
Datum Starts at: 20:00
Venue
Dorf 39
6235 Reith im Alpbachtal