Rauhnacht

Cabaret and Alpine Western

As in his acclaimed stage programme Da Billi Jean is ned mei Bua, Stefan Leonhardsberger shakes up the established categories of entertainment in Rauhnacht. For this mixture of cabaret and Alpine western, the Austrian actor and singer once again slips into a variety of roles and shows us drastically why it is better to stay at home on New Year’s Eve. 

Unbeatable trio

Of course, his faithful and congenial partner Martin Schmid is also involved, providing the live soundtrack as an acoustic stage designer on the guitar. As with the texts for Da Billi Jean is ned mei Bua, Paul Klambauer, who also directs, is responsible as co-author for the idea and book. Together with Leonhardsberger and Schmid he forms an unbeatable trio. With Rauhnacht, the creators have succeeded in creating a more than unusual mixture somewhere between Josef Hader and Quentin Tarantino, which doesn’t fit into any pigeonhole and – perhaps precisely for that reason – is a source of enthusiasm among critics and audiences alike.

WHERE THE HELL IS NORA ANYWAY?

And that’s what it’s about: Actually, the Höller farmer Erich already has his hands full with various animal epidemics and a crazy grandmother. When his daughter Nora disappears on New Year’s Eve, it’s clear to him that things have to change in the new year. But he is not the only one who has set his sights high. Between raclette, champagne and New Year’s concerts, nerves are also on edge in the respected gravel pit dynasty of Röbelreiter. Storm Vladimir brings masses of Siberian snow, religious fanatics prepare for the end of the world and slowly everyone asks themselves: where the hell is Nora?

Fotos © Jan Frankl