Plays for the Festivals of the Year

Quick Look

If you have already purchased this book, you may click on the 'Links' tab to download the resources for performers.

• Brings together fourteen of König's plays for the first time
• Written for communities to perform together
• A definitive reference work including commentary and photographs

Fourteen plays written for Camphill communities, to bring groups of people together.

Description

Karl König's plays for the festivals of the year are arguably his most original creations. Written to be performed in Camphill communities, they show a deep understanding of the Christian festivals.

With one exception, all fourteen plays were written during the early years of the Camphill movement, and König's hope was that their performance would help bring communities together. Not only is their content entertaining and informative, but the act of performing provides great benefits as social therapy.

Since then, the plays have been translated into many languages and performed in Camphill and other communities around the world.

This is the first time that the original texts of all the plays have been published together. They are presented with an introduction and commentary by series editor Richard Steel, alongside fascinating performance photographs.

Table of Contents

A play for Advent
Three plays for Christmas
A four-part Easter play: Maundy Thursday; Good Friday; Holy Saturday; Easter Sunday
Four plays between Ascension and Pentecost: The Evening in Emmaus; Quo vadis, Domine; The Book of Kells; The Cup of Zarathustra
A St John's play
A Michaelmas play

Reviews

'At last we have all of Dr. Konig's Festival Plays in one book! It's taken a long time. So we owe Richard Steele, the Karl Konig Archive and Floris Books a huge debt of gratitude. [...] What a treasure trove of wonders this book is! Each play is set out clearly with all relevant information on what the cast should wear, where they should stand (there was not a lot of movement in the plays: they were more like tableaux of the imagination from a higher dimension) and the meagre props necessary [...] How many people have found their way into Camphill through these plays? As Ruth von Ledebur, who wrote an introduction for the book about Konig's plays in the context of European drama, says: 'His plays were -- and still are -- the most important entry gate for me to his way of thinking and to the spirit of Camphill'. Richard Steele continues that thought by hoping his book will contribute towards opening gateways for many more people and 'strengthen the flow of the spirit for which Konig wanted Camphill to be a vessel'. We can only be grateful to at last have such an invaluable Fountain of Life to nourish and heal us.'
-- Russell Pooler (Author of Rosicrucian Soul, Lindisfarne Books)

'... for those readers who don't have the possibility to participate in a production of one of these plays, [reading them] can still be a source of nourishment and inspiration. Read them as if they are poetry. Allow each image to resonate in the soul. Connections will be made over time and deeper meanings will be revealed in a quiet pondering of the heart.'
-- Anna Phillips, New View

Author

Karl König (1902-66) was well-known as a physician, author and lecturer. He began his work at the Institute of Embryology at the University of Vienna. In 1940 he founded the Camphill Movement in Scotland. Based on Rudolf Steiner's insights into human development, the special education schools for children and villages for adults with special needs are now established in many parts of the world.

Links

If you have already purchased this book, downloadable versions of the plays for performers are available below (all PDF format):

• The Little Christmas Play


• A Christmas Celebration


• A Community Christmas Play


• An Easter Play


• The Evening at Emmaus


• Quo Vadis, Domine


• The Book of Kells


• The Cup of Zarathustra


• A St John's Play


• A Play for Michaelmas


• An Advent Play

You're welcome to download these for non-commercial use only. Please note that these PDFs are specially formatted for performance and do not include any of the valuable extra material, guidelines or insightful commentary, which are only available in the printed book.