The Robber Hotzenplotz: MiR opens the doors to the theater rehearsal
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The Robber Hotzenplotz up close: An exclusive look into the theater rehearsal
When the lights come on in the Music Theater in the Ruhr area, a special stage experience begins: At MiR rehearses "The Robber Hotzenplotz", visitors experience the daily theater work up close. After a brief introduction to the production, the rehearsal of the family opera opens up – from the best seats in the orchestra and with direct proximity to acting, music, and directing.
A family opera between fairy tale world and musical adventure
The Robber Hotzenplotz returns to the stage at MiR as a family opera by Sebastian Schwab. The sung play in eight scenes combines the narrative of Otfried Preußler’s children’s book classic with a libretto and song texts by Elena Tzavara, Anne X. Weber, and Susanne Lütje. The focus is on Kasperl and Seppel, who see their grandmother robbed and want to reclaim the stolen coffee grinder.
The adventurous journey leads through a fairy-tale world full of dangers, comical figures, and surprising twists. The shivering watchman Dimpfelmoser, the sinister wizard Zwackelmann, and the mysterious fairy Amaryllis give the story its distinctive theatrical magic.
Direction, stage design, and music in the creation process
The production by Juana Inés Cano Restrepo brings Preußler's narrative world imaginatively to the Great House of MiR. Musical direction, stage design, costumes, and lighting interact and make visible how text, sound, movement, and atmosphere create a completed theater evening.
The visit to the rehearsal makes the dramaturgy of a production tangible: Scenes are refined, musical transitions condensed, and characters sharpened in their stage presence. The audience observes the work where theater is still being created – between concentrated repetition, spontaneous impulses, and the search for the right tone.
Discussion with participants
After the rehearsal, the evening opens up for a discussion with participants of the production. An immediate exchange arises about directing, acting, music theater, and the challenges of a family opera. The audience’s reaction becomes part of the experience: Questions, impressions, and observations meet the perspectives of the artists.
Admission free at the Music Theater in the Ruhr area
The event on Friday, November 20, 2026, begins at 6:30 PM in the foyer of the Music Theater in the Ruhr area. The event is free of charge. According to the schedule, the rehearsal lasts until about 8:30 PM and offers children, families, theater newcomers, and experienced culture enthusiasts an unusually direct access to the performing arts.
Conclusion: "MiR rehearses The Robber Hotzenplotz" offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of a large family opera. Those who want to experience theater not just as a finished performance but as a living creation process will find concentrated theater atmosphere, fairy-tale sound worlds, and real closeness to the participants. This free stage experience is worthwhile for anyone who wants to discover The Robber Hotzenplotz up close.
Official channels of the Music Theater in the Ruhr area:
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- Website: https://mirgelsenkirchen.de/
