The final performance of La Bohème took place on 31 August in front of a sold-out audience. In total, 40,109 people experienced 19 performances of Puccini’s masterpiece on what is considered to be Germany's most beautiful open-air stage. For the first time in 31 years, Theater Erfurt is proud to announce a 100 per cent attendance rate. This achievement sees La Bohème
take the top spot in the festival's audience statistics, surpassing Der Freischütz, which reached 99.84 per cent attendance in 2015. Of the 20 scheduled performances, only one had to be interrupted and ultimately cancelled due to a severe thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain.

The audience’s enthusiasm was not only directed at Puccini’s beautiful opera, but also at the spectacular stage design. Featuring a 16-meter-high Eiffel Tower, a 23-meter-long slide and over 1,200 lights, director and set designer Matthew Ferraro made full use of the Domstufen's kinetic potential, creating a captivating atmosphere. The slide quickly became one of the production’s most unique highlights. However, this experience was reserved exclusively for the children of the Kinder- und Jugendchor der Chorakademie Erfurt, as well as for the character of Musetta. To close the festival, Theater Erfurt held a raffle for the rare opportunity to take a ride down the slide. Yesterday afternoon, this dream came true for 50 lucky contest winners.

Fortunately, the Eiffel Tower attracted just as much attention as the slide. After the DomStufen-Festspiele, more than 40 interested parties contacted Theater Erfurt in the hope of acquiring it. Ultimately, the operators of the „Heuberghaus“ in Friedrichroda, Thuringia, emerged victorious over all competitors and are now the proud new owners of the slide and the Eiffel Tower. Its removal from the festival site is scheduled for 3 September 2025.

Final report on DOMINO – DomStufen-Festspiele für die Kleinen

Nine of the eleven scheduled performances of the family opera The Little Ghost, which formed part of the DOMINO – DomStufen-Festspiele für die Kleinen, went ahead. A total of 5,192 young and adult visitors joined the little ghost on its journey between day and night, accompanied by beautiful melodies specially composed for this production by Peter Leipold. This corresponds to an impressive occupancy rate of 95 per cent.

Unfortunately, the final two performances on 28 and 29 August 2025 had to be cancelled due to persistent rain.

Secure your tickets now for the 33rd DomStufen-Festspiele in 2026!

Tickets for the 2026 festival, which will feature Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, are already on sale online and available from the visitor services centre. Those who purchase before 30 September 2025 will receive a 10% discount on the standard ticket price.