ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
In order to make the Jedermann performances possible, in July of 1920 the Salzburg Festspielhaus Association asked the Provincial Government to provide a free load of timber in order to construct the Festival stage at the Felsenreitschule. The expected ticket revenues were to be donated to invalids, war orphans and prisoners of war; Max Reinhardt, the designer Alfred Roller and the actors provided their services free of charge, and Hugo von Hofmannsthal and the composers Einar Nilson and Bernhard Paumgartner agreed to forego their royalties. A week later, the decision was made as a last-minute stopgap to perform Jedermann in front of the Salzburg Cathedral at first. Because of the difficult situation regarding nutrition, only short-term permits were granted to visitors, and special trains were provided to ensure that the guests would leave Salzburg in a timely fashion. The State Bureau of Nutrition allowed the locals additional contingents of flour, rice and fat. The rest is a legend – Salzburg’s Jedermann on Cathedral Square became the most successful and permanent stopgap in the history of theater.
For the Festival’s 90th anniversary, Christian Stückl directs the production with a largely new ensemble and the youngest Jedermann in its history.