The Edelweißpiraten

In the summer of the Second World War, young Josef Gerlach, nicknamed Gerle, seeks freedom. Dissatisfied with the drills of the Hitler Youth and the glorification of war, he joins the Edelweißpiraten—a group of young people who escape the bleak everyday life through music, friendship, and nonconformity. But as the war draws nearer and the regime’s pressure increases, Gerle must make a choice: resist or remain silent? The question becomes especially explosive when his own brother becomes part of the Nazi system.

Based on Dirk Reinhardt’s novel of the same name, Verena Holztrattner’s stage adaptation tells a moving story of courage, morality, and the limits of action. Recommended for ages 10 and up, the production addresses war, resistance, and family conflicts under National Socialism in a way suitable for young audiences. Directed by Anna Lukasser-Weitlaner, Eva Musil designs the stage and costumes as a field of tension between the longing for freedom and totalitarian confinement. The production is aimed at both young readers and adults alike.