Fairy‑Tale Summer

Castle Poysbrunn [ENA] The Fairy-Tale Summer Lower Austria at the wonderful Castle Poysbrunn is much more than a summer theatre series for children; it is a lovingly crafted world in which fairy tales, live performance and the architecture of a castle combine into a genuinely magical experience for audiences of all ages. From the moment the gates open, the atmosphere is one of invitation and play.

Families are welcomed into the courtyard and gardens as if entering a living storybook, with actors, musicians and staff all contributing to a sense that theatre here is not something to be watched from a distance, but to be stepped into and shared. What distinguishes Fairy-Tale Summer from many other family offerings is the high artistic standard it consistently maintains. Reviews from recent seasons praise the “super organisation, great actors, appealing costumes and stage design, beautiful location”, and these are not empty phrases.

The productions re‑imagine classic tales—whether Cinderella, the Bremen Town Musicians or Rapunzel—in forms that are witty, musically rich and theatrically inventive, while remaining accessible to younger spectators. Live music, clever song arrangements and playful choreography turn familiar stories into fresh adventures; humour is pitched so that children laugh wholeheartedly, but adults also find themselves genuinely entertained rather than merely accompanying.

Interactivity is at the heart of the experience. Children are regularly drawn into the action, invited to respond, to choose, to help the heroes along, making each performance feel slightly different and deeply personal. This participatory approach is extended by programmes where children and young people can develop and try out their own theatre pieces over several weeks, learning by doing on a real stage. Such initiatives underline a crucial point: Fairy-Tale Summer does not just perform stories to children, it actively empowers them as storytellers and theatre‑makers in their own right.

The setting itself plays a decisive role. The Castle Poysbrunn, nestled in the Weinviertel, offers an environment in which walking from scene to scene becomes part of the dramaturgy – a true musical wandering theatre. Courtyards, meadows and corners of the castle transform into different fairy‑tale worlds: here a forest, there a ballroom, elsewhere a marketplace. This spatial way of telling stories encourages movement, curiosity and a spirit of discovery, turning a visit to Märchensommer into an outing where theatre, nature, castle atmosphere and family time flow seamlessly into one another.

Audience feedback consistently highlights how quick‑witted and very entertaining the productions are, with many families returning year after year. Parents praise the way their children are included in the theatre and note that the pieces work across a wide age range, which is no small achievement. Artistic director Nina Blum and her team succeed in continually developing the repertoire and style – new versions, fresh twists on the stories, new songs – while preserving that blend of warmth, humour and emotional clarity that has made Märchensommer such a cherished tradition.

Dear Märchensommer fans, the 20th anniversary season with “Aschenputtel – neu getanzt” promises to be something truly special. As in previous years, the castle becomes a playground for imagination, but this time the celebration of two decades of fairy‑tale theatre adds an extra layer of excitement. Helping Cinderella through and around the castle, following her lost shoe and decoding a magical treasure map transforms the audience into active companions on her journey. The new, modern and humorous version crafted by Michaela Riedl‑Schlosser, with songs by Gudrun Nikodem‑Eichenhardt and music by Andreas Radovan, ensures that this beloved Grimm tale feels alive and contemporary without losing its emotional core.