Störtebeker Festspiele

What Störtebeker Festspiele does

Störtebeker Festspiele GmbH & Co. KG operates one of Europe's largest open-air theaters in Ralswiek on the island of Rügen, Germany, producing an annual seasonal theatrical production staged on a natural amphitheater overlooking the Großer Jasmunder Bodden coastal lagoon. Founded in 1993 by Peter Hick and currently led by managing director Anna-Theresa Hick, the company runs 67 performances each season from June through September, featuring over 150 performers on foot, horseback, water and in the air, alongside 30 horses, four ships, stunt sequences, and pyrotechnics. The 2026 season production is 'Likedeeler', Part II of the VII Spielzyklus, scheduled June 20 to September 5, 2026.

The product portfolio is anchored by the seasonal theater production and extended by the Adlershow (birds of prey pre-program operated by partner Falknerei Volker Walter), an online ticketing platform with interactive seating (stoertebeker.de), a fan merchandise store (Störti-Butik), on-site gastronomy, a podcast series, and adjacent accommodation (Störtebeker Appartements). Underlying technology is conventional e-commerce infrastructure: Adyen and BS Payone payment processing, self-hosted Matomo analytics with IP anonymization, Knight Solutions GmbH hosting under a GDPR-compliant data processing agreement, Rapidmail newsletters, OpenStreetMap tile services from PLATZDORSCH, and a ticketing UI compliant with WCAG 2.2 Level AA and BITV 2.0 (EU Directive 2016/2102).

Revenue is generated through ticket sales across six seat categories (Platzgruppen I–VI), merchandise, gift vouchers (€10/€25/€50/€100 denominations, 3-year validity), and ancillary fees including bus parking (€20–€40 per show per bus). Distribution combines a self-serve online shop, ticket hotline (03838/31100), email/postal ordering, a national network of authorized Vorverkaufsstellen presale locations, and a B2B channel serving travel agencies and bus tour operators with weekday group discounts. Customer segments are individual tourists, families (with free entry for children under 4 and discounts to age 15), and organized group travelers, supported by marketing partnerships with NDR Nordmagazin (media), Nissan (automotive), and Lübzer Brewery (beverages).

Name

Störtebeker Festspiele

Legal name

Störtebeker Festspiele GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://stoertebeker.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Störtebeker Festspiele GmbH & Co. KG operates one of Europe's largest open-air theaters in Ralswiek on Rügen Island, Germany, staging 67 annual seasonal performances from June to September featuring over 150 performers, horses, ships, and pyrotechnics for tourists, families, and group travelers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Open-Air Theater / Performing Arts

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Amphitheater & Open-Air Venue Operations (MPAGALAG)

Keywords

• Open-air theater
• Performing arts
• Live entertainment
• Historical theater production
• Cultural tourism events

Headquarters

HQ city

Ralswiek

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for theater performances and the accompanying eagle show (Adlershow). Shows run from June to September with 67 performances per season. Pricing varies by seat category (Platzgruppen I-VI).
2. Merchandise (Störti-Butik): Fan shop selling branded merchandise including T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, caps, children's costumes, and Rügen-themed products through the online store.
3. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers sold in denominations of 10, 25, 50, and 100 euros, valid for 3 years from purchase date.
4. Bus Parking Fees: Parking fees charged to bus tour operators: 40 EUR for double-decker buses, 35 EUR for coaches and midi-buses, 20 EUR for minibuses per show per parking space.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Störtebeker Festspiele produces and stages an annual seasonal open-air theater performance on a natural waterfront stage in Ralswiek on the island of Rügen, featuring historical pirate narratives with over 150 performers, 30 horses, four ships, equestrian stunts, and pyrotechnic effects. The core offering is the 67-performance summer season (June to September), supported by a pre-show birds-of-prey demonstration (Adlershow), an online ticketing platform with interactive seating, on-site gastronomy, branded merchandise, and visitor accommodation.

Product overview

Störtebeker Festspiele operates as an open-air theater complex offering a main theater production, supporting attractions, and visitor services. The core product is the annual open-air theater performance on Rügen Island featuring historical pirate narratives. Supporting offerings include the Adlershow (birds of prey demonstration), an online ticketing system with accessible seat selection, a merchandise store (Störti-Butik), a podcast, on-site gastronomy, and accommodation services. The company also provides group travel services and operates a network of physical presale points for ticket distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Störti-Butik: Fan shop / merchandise store selling apparel including T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, caps, Rügen-themed products, and fan merchandise.

Products and services

• Störtebeker Festspiele Open-Air Theater Production ("Likedeeler" 2026) Annual open-air theater production in Ralswiek on Rügen Island, featuring historical pirate-themed performances with stunt shows, horse performances, pyrotechnics, and fireworks. One of Europe's largest outdoor theaters with over 150 performers, 30 horses, four ships, and 67 performances per season.
• Adlershow – Könige der Lüfte (Eagle Show) Birds of prey show featured as pre-program before main theater performances, operated by Falknerei Volker Walter, presenting eagle and raptor demonstrations in the outdoor setting. Available only combined with theater tickets.
• Group Travel & Bus Tour Services (Gruppenreisen & Busreisen) Group travel service offering 10% ticket discounts for groups of 21+ on Monday–Friday shows in Platzgruppen I–V, bus parking facilities, and promotional materials for travel agencies and bus tour operators.
• Störti-Butik Fan Shop (Merchandise) Online merchandise store selling branded products including T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, long-sleeve shirts, caps, hats, children's costumes, Rügen-themed products, and fan articles.
• Störtebeker Appartements (Accommodation) Visitor accommodation services in apartments located near the theater venue in Ralswiek on Rügen Island.
• On-Site Gastronomie (Food & Beverage) On-site food and beverage services at the festival venue, including partner-supplied beverages from Lübzer Brewery.
• Störtebeker Podcast Podcast series featuring news and behind-the-scenes content about the festival productions.
• Online Ticket Shop Digital ticketing platform for purchasing tickets to performances, featuring interactive seat selection with accessible Bestplatzwahl (best seat) alternative for accessibility, supporting print-at-home e-tickets and payment via Adyen and PayOne.
• Authorized Pre-Sale Locations (Vorverkaufsstellen) Network of authorized physical presale locations across Germany where customers can purchase tickets in person with personal consultation and direct access to the central ticketing system.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9+ million total visitors over 30+ years of operation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NDR (Nordmagazin)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) Nordmagazin serves as a media partner, providing broadcast coverage and promotional support for the Störtebeker Festspiele, helping reach audiences across northern Germany through news features and cultural programming.
• NissanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive manufacturer Nissan partners with the festival as a sponsor, providing vehicle support and co-marketing opportunities for the event.
• Lübzer (Brauerei)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLübzer Brewery is a key beverage partner, supplying beer products for the gastronomy offerings at the venue, featuring their logo and lighthouse branding.
• Knight Solutions GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationExternal hosting provider for the company's website and online services, storing website content and processing visitor data under a data processing agreement (AVV) compliant with GDPR.
• Falknerei Volker WaltercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFalknerei Volker Walter based in Duisburg provides the Adlershow (Eagle Show) pre-program featuring birds of prey. While the show is included with theater tickets, the falconry service is a separate operation managed by the falconer.
• Adyen N.V.coreTechnology or IntegrationPayment service provider handling secure credit card transactions (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) and Girokarte/maestro payments through SSL/TLS encrypted connections.
• Jagdschlossexpress und Ausflugsfahrten GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation partner offering shuttle services from B96 parking area to the venue, providing an alternative transport option for visitors.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seebühne Bregenz: The famous floating stage on Lake Constance in Austria produces large-scale summer opera and musical theater. Comparable as a waterfront natural-stage performing-arts venue with an international reputation and premium ticket pricing.
• Thüringer Schlossfestspiele Sondershausen: Annual open-air festival on the grounds of Sondershausen Castle featuring opera and musical theater. Comparable as a long-running German summer theater festival with a historical venue setting.
• Freilichtspiele Tecklenburg: Large German open-air theater operating a seasonal musical/play production in a natural quarry setting with comparable production scale, ticketing model, and target audience to Störtebeker Festspiele.
• Karl-May-Spiele Bad Segeberg: Open-air theater staging Karl May adventure stories in an outdoor arena in Northern Germany. Highly comparable in theme-based outdoor theater production, family audiences, and seasonal operating model.
• Burgfestspiele Jagsthausen: Seasonal theater festival staged in the courtyard of a historic castle in Baden-Württemberg. Directly comparable as a German open-air theater production with a summer performance window and similar audience segments.
• Bad Hersfelder Festspiele: Annual summer festival performed in the ruins of the Hersfeld Abbey. Closely comparable as a German open-air theater with a summer performance calendar and comparable audience profile.
• Luisenburg-Festspiele: Germany's oldest open-air festival theater, set on a natural rock stage in the Fichtelgebirge. Directly comparable as another long-running seasonal outdoor theater festival with multiple productions and ensemble performers.

Broad incumbents

• Salzburger Festspiele: One of the world's most prestigious performing-arts festivals offering opera, drama, and concerts across multiple Salzburg venues each summer. Overlaps with Störtebeker as a high-profile European summer arts festival but is far larger in scale, scope, and international reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/stoertebekerDE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/stoertebekerfestspie
• Facebookfacebook.com/stoertebekerfestspiele
• Instagraminstagram.com/stoertebekerfestspiele
• TikToktiktok.com/@stoertebekerfestspiele

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Störtebeker Festspiele