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During a few months, many people from Einsiedeln or the surrounding area get involved in the "Great World Theater". In order to perform in the open air on the monastery square and in front of the majestic backdrop of Einsiedeln Monastery, around 500 contributors sacrifice many hours of their free time. Everyone is invited to participate on or behind the stage: young or old, woman or man, people with impairments or special abilities, musicians, singers or technicians, even entire families. There is a task, or even a role, for everyone. As a member of the Spielvolk, Markus Kälin inspires the audience during about 40 performances.
When my family moved to the monastery village of Einsiedeln in 2005, the "world theater fever" gripped me, as it had many before me. But I must have been infected with the theater fever earlier. The enthusiasm for world theater is now lived, or rather played, in our family in the fourth generation. Already my grandfather played the leading role of the "rich man" in the beginnings of the event, my father played the role of the "law of grace".
On the occasion of the World Theater Day in 2006, I signed up as an actor for the next production the following year. My biggest wish was a speaking role. In order for this to come true, I had to face a casting. I had to perform various, until then unusual "exercises" for the then director Volker Hesse and his assistant director. I awaited the distribution of roles with great excitement - and when the curtain was finally lifted, I knew: I was allowed to play a "Chäli Maa". But what this leading role meant for me and demanded of me, I was not yet aware of. Countless intensive rehearsals followed, sometimes five to six times a week. In addition, the artistic direction was still looking for a truck driver for the performance. Although I could never have imagined driving a semi-truck to the monastery square for every performance, I was exactly the right person for this role. The production called for all the "Chäli Mannen" to have red hair, and I had to decide whether to dye it or wear a wig. For example, my dyed hair caused a funny discussion during a customer visit in Vienna.
After 2007, I played together with my whole family again in 2013 at the World Theater. This season, however, in different roles, including street sweeper and architect.
Playing theater means for me to combine reality and fantasy and to express myself in a creative way. Taking on different roles allows me to slip into personalities that I would not take on or be allowed to play in everyday life. In the theater, I can move freely in a smaller or larger group and get to know various familiar or unfamiliar characters. For example, I found out: If you can put yourself in another person's shoes on stage, you can handle situations better and understand human reactions better.
My enjoyment of acting went beyond the world theater of the 2007 season. To date, I have since acted in seven productions of the Chärnehus Theater Group. In 2008 I portrayed a mute angel in the play "Zwüschewält". During my "mute and walking time" I often thought about the play and the near-death experiences thematized in it. After playing a dedicated and sly construction manager in the outdoor production "Lochmatt" in 2010, my acting and singing qualities were in demand in 2011 when we performed a tribute to old times in the old cinema Etzel.
Another Chärnehus highlight were the performances of "De Casanova im Klosterdorf". The text was written by Thomas Hürlimann from Walchwil. It was an amusing play in which the notorious womanizer came to the village to enter the monastery and abstain. As expected, nothing came of this plan! In my role as the organist Father Ezekiel, my heart no longer cooperated at one point in the story, whereupon I said goodbye to earthly life. The fact that I was able to finish this role beyond death and in a changing way is the great thing about theater. But the next generation is also close to my heart. So I took on the role of production manager for two productions of the children's and youth theater Sapperlot.
In 2024 it will be time again for the Einsiedeln World Theater, and preparations are already in full swing. As a board member of the World Theater Society, I have been responsible as the Spielvolk supervisor since 2015. In close cooperation with the production management, I am responsible for the recruitment and supervision of the Spielvolk as well as the organization of the related events. The new play to be staged by Livio Andreina is written by the well-known Swiss author Lukas Bärfuss and, based on Calderón's roles, deals with the fundamental questions of life: Who are we? What do we want to be? What role do we take in our lives? What do we live for? What are we willing to die for?
I would be extremely pleased if I could welcome all readers of my contribution to one of the 40 performances in Einsiedeln next summer.
