When does Journey to the Center of the Earth take place?

The performance begins on Wednesday, December 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM.

Where will the play be performed?

The performance takes place in the cooler building at the gas works, Am Alten Gaswerk 8, 86156 Augsburg.

How long is the performance?

The expected duration is about 80 minutes without an intermission.

How much does a ticket cost?

The official ticket prices range from €22 to €26 depending on the seating category.

Are mixed-reality glasses used?

Yes. The audience receives mixed-reality glasses and will receive an introduction on how to use them at the start of the performance.

Is there an introduction before the performance?

Yes. The introduction and the briefing on the AR glasses take place at the beginning of the performance in the cooler building.

Jules Verne's Earth Expedition Becomes an Immersive Theater Adventure in Gas Works Augsburg

Name: Journey to the Center of the Earth
Start: 2026-12-30T19:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-12-30T20:50:00+01:00
Location: Kühlergebäude im Gaswerk

An expedition into the earth's interior: Jules Verne's adventure as a mixed-reality theater

On December 30, 2026, the Augsburg State Theater invites you to an extraordinary journey in the cooler building of the gas works: Jules Verne's classic Journey to the Center of the Earth appears as an immersive mixed-reality play. Acting, music, digital imagery, and spatial illusions combine to create a theatrical experience that brings literary sources and digital reality into a thrilling dialogue.

Jules Verne between adventure novel and vision of the future

The novel published by Jules Verne in 1864 is one of the defining works of early science fiction. At its center are curiosity, scientific quest for knowledge, and the courage to enter the unknown. The Augsburg production preserves the historical character of the narrative while simultaneously expanding it with a modern visual layer.

Professor Otto Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel, and the Icelandic mountain guide Hans Bjelke follow the traces of a hidden expedition. Their path leads deeper into the earth through the volcano Snæfellsjökull. The narrative tension arises from the contrast between scientific measurement, existential threat, and the fascination of a world beyond the known.

Mixed reality as a new form of author encounter

The audience receives modern mixed-reality glasses and experiences the journey not just as an observation from the outside. Digital imagery expands the stage space, while the actors perform in the atmosphere of the historical gas works. This creates an intimate reading and theater atmosphere in which language, voice, music, and visual illusion intertwine directly.

The production by Lukas Joshua Baueregger combines acting with the artistic work of digital theater. The AR glasses serve not merely as an effect but as a dramaturgical tool: historical dialogues and modern technology create an appealing contrast. The 19th-century adventure gains a new sensory presence without losing its literary origin.

Voice, music, and linguistic craftsmanship

The characters Otto Lidenbrock, Axel, and Hans Bjelke form a strong ensemble. Gerald Fiedler, Florian Mania, and Wiard Witholt give the expedition different temperaments: scientific rigor, youthful identification, and pragmatic orientation. Live music and baritone create a sonic resonance space that atmosphere-laden compresses the underground journey.

The literary quality of the evening lies in the connection between adventure plot and stage research. Verne's narrative is not presented as a museum exhibit but is further developed as an open narrative structure. Between historical language, physical play, and digital appearances, a theater evening emerges that brings together cultural discourse, technology enthusiasm, and linguistic artistry.

An evening for literature, theater, and technology enthusiasts

The performance is expected to last about 80 minutes and takes place without an intermission. An introduction and training on how to use the AR glasses will be given at the beginning of the performance in the cooler building. Admission begins about ten minutes before the start. The venue at the gas works lends a special industrial atmosphere to the author encounter: between brick, history, and digital illusion, Verne's inner earth becomes an immediately experienceable stage.

Conclusion: Visitors can expect a literary experience that combines adventure novel, play, music, and mixed reality. Those who want to rediscover Jules Verne, explore the possibilities of digital theater, and experience an unusual reading atmosphere will find an impressive year-end in this production. The journey begins live in the cooler building of the gas works.