Dehnberger Hoftheater

The Dehnberger Hof Theater stands in Dehnberg, a village within the town of Lauf an der Pegnitz near Nuremberg. It occupies a converted farmhouse that dates back to a 1973 purchase by Wolfgang Riedelbauch, a conductor at Nuremberg’s opera house, and his wife. The heart of the theatre is the old hop barn, now a stage seating two hundred people. The theatre is known for plays in Franconian dialect, but its programme also includes cabaret, readings, and concerts ranging from classical to folk and jazz. Summer brings outdoor performances in the courtyard and jazz breakfasts. Children’s workshops, youth theatre, and acting courses for amateurs form part of the year-round schedule. About two hundred shows each year draw visitors from beyond the region, especially to its rare baroque operas performed in chamber versions. A local council board supports the theatre’s finances, while ticket sales, membership fees, and donations keep the artistic side alive. Ekkehard Wagner, who guided the theatre for sixteen years, was made an honorary member at its thirtieth anniversary. The building remains a lively cultural spot in the Franconian countryside.