Oberammergau is a delightful Bavarian village set in the unspoiled scenery of the Ammer River. This quaint village of Oberammergau is world famous for its spectacular Passion Play, performed by the locals just once a decade.

The Passion Play of Oberammergau dates back to the middle of the Thirty Years War. In 1633, after months of suffering from the Bubonic Plague, the Black Death decimated Europes population. Oberammergau remained untouched until a homesick villager returned one night in 1634, unknowingly bringing with him the dreaded plague. Almost 100 villagers died as a result.

Frightened survivors vowed that if God saved them from the plague, once every 10 years they would reenact the agony and crucifixion of Christ. From then on there were no further deaths from the plagueand the villagers have fulfilled their pledge ever since.



The Oberammergau Passion Play is a play of life and death, promised in a moment of mortal threat, and so began the history of the play in 1634. The Passion Play takes place out doors where the sky and mountains are the back drop. A wonderful spectacle of pageantry. World renown for the costumes and music presentation. Now, more than 2,000 citizens make up the actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians that bring the play to life in approximately six hours of playing time. The year 2010 marks the 41st time the story will be presented in Oberammergau.


For the past four centuries, the tradition of staging this play has continued every 10 years. And in 2010, (May through October), audiences from around the world will once again flock to Oberammergau to view this grand performance.

Today, more than 2,000 citizens make up the actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians that bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth to life in approximately six hours of playing time (with a meal at intermission). The year 2010 marks the 41st time the story will be presented in Oberammergau. The Passion Play takes place outdoors, with the town's sky and mountains as backdrops to its wonderful pageantry.


About half the inhabitants of Oberammergau are expected to take part in the once-a-decade Passion Play in the year 2010.

This means that over 2,000 villagers will bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth to life for the audiences that flock in from around the world. The play starts with Jesus entering Jerusalem, continues with His Death on the Cross and finishes with the Resurrection. As ever, this is an extraordinary community enterprise.
The cast of villagers also create the play's outstanding costumes. As no wigs are used, participants must grow their hair and beards for several months prior to the performances, beginning on Ash Wednesday 2009 according to the "Hair Decree." Performances begin at 14:30 and, with a three-hour interval, and ends at 22:30; performances are scheduled between mid-May and early October 2010.

Here is a site for more information and ticketing.
http://www.worldwideticketing.com/sp...ssion_play.htm