The English Dramatic Society is a regularly performing amateur English theatre group at the Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg language centre.
99
plays since 1972
The EDS in numbers
Since 1972, the EDS has performed a play almost every semester, at the very least once a year. The longest break was four university semesters from summer 2020 - winter 2022 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Between 1972 and 2024 there have been 99 productions have been produced by the EDS, 31 of them by the current director, the 15th to be in charge of the group.
William Shakespeare is (perhaps not surprisingly) the playwright whose plays have been performed most often: 13 different plays, 36 including repeats, the most often performed being A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Between 1972 and 2024 there have been 99 productions have been produced by the EDS, 31 of them by the current director, the 15th to be in charge of the group.
William Shakespeare is (perhaps not surprisingly) the playwright whose plays have been performed most often: 13 different plays, 36 including repeats, the most often performed being A Midsummer Night's Dream.
13
Shakespeare plays performed
15
directors have produced EDS plays
53
years of EDS productions up to 2025
Comedies in the summer, serious plays in the winter
We produce two plays every year
For many years our plays were mostly, well actually almost always comedies. We now usually perform a serious play in February and a comedy at the end of July / beginning of August.
The EDS celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 having first taken to the stage in 1972 with a production of “The Country Wife” by William Wycherley. Since then the ever-changing company of students, lecturers and professors and their friends, spouses, children and pets, has produced 99 plays altogether.
The EDS celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 having first taken to the stage in 1972 with a production of “The Country Wife” by William Wycherley. Since then the ever-changing company of students, lecturers and professors and their friends, spouses, children and pets, has produced 99 plays altogether.
Something for everyone - and not always Shekseare!
Productions from A - Z (well, almost)
We’ve performed plays by Ayckbourn, Allen and Albee, Beckett and Bolt, Fry and Friel, Sheridan, Stoppard, Shaw and Shakespeare, Wilde and Wilder.
We've played Aristocrats and artisans, barons and beggars, colonels and clowns, damsels and dowagers, elves and fairies, gods and harlots, idiots and jades, kangaroos and lovers, magicians and nymphs, officers and priests, quacks and ringmasters, sirens and troubadours, upstarts, virgins, wastrels, xylophones and zeds. We’ve played them all.
We've played Aristocrats and artisans, barons and beggars, colonels and clowns, damsels and dowagers, elves and fairies, gods and harlots, idiots and jades, kangaroos and lovers, magicians and nymphs, officers and priests, quacks and ringmasters, sirens and troubadours, upstarts, virgins, wastrels, xylophones and zeds. We’ve played them all.
15th in the role
The director
The EDS is currently directed by Kirsten Henry, a former student of Theatre Studies and English at the University of Erlangen.
Kirsten joined the EDS as as student in 2001 when she acted in the production ‘Front Page’. She has since appeared on stage in a number of EDS plays and also been regularly involved in the technical side (lighting, stage design) of several shows.
Since taking over the role of director in October 2006 she has directed the last 32 plays from “The Taming of the Shrew” in February 2007 to “Dr. Faustus” in 2025.
The EDS has seen a number of directors over its 52 year history – 15 to be precise. The longest serving director is Damian Quinn who over a period of 20 years directed no fewer than 39 EDS productions.
Kirsten joined the EDS as as student in 2001 when she acted in the production ‘Front Page’. She has since appeared on stage in a number of EDS plays and also been regularly involved in the technical side (lighting, stage design) of several shows.
Since taking over the role of director in October 2006 she has directed the last 32 plays from “The Taming of the Shrew” in February 2007 to “Dr. Faustus” in 2025.
The EDS has seen a number of directors over its 52 year history – 15 to be precise. The longest serving director is Damian Quinn who over a period of 20 years directed no fewer than 39 EDS productions.
HOME TO THE EDS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS
The theatre
For more than 50 years the EDS has been a regular guest in the Experimentiertheater, at the end of each university semester.
The Experimentiertheater (The “EX”) is situated within the main building of the faculty of philosophy and ‘Audimax’ in Erlangen and is part of the Institute for Theatre and Media. It is a technically well-equipped theatre with some of the latest light and sound technology, a variable stage area, variable seating and space for audiences of up to approximately 150 people.
Having opened in 1970 as a central university facility and managed by the Institute of Theatre and Media Studies, the Experminetiertheater celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 – just two years ahead of the EDS.
The Experimentiertheater (The “EX”) is situated within the main building of the faculty of philosophy and ‘Audimax’ in Erlangen and is part of the Institute for Theatre and Media. It is a technically well-equipped theatre with some of the latest light and sound technology, a variable stage area, variable seating and space for audiences of up to approximately 150 people.
Having opened in 1970 as a central university facility and managed by the Institute of Theatre and Media Studies, the Experminetiertheater celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 – just two years ahead of the EDS.
Interested in taking part?
There are two opportunities every year to take part in an EDS: between April and July for the summer production and between October and February for the winter production.
If you would like to take part, we are always looking for new people to join us, and we don’t just need actors.
You can find more details about being part of the EDS on our 'taking part' page.
If you would like to take part, we are always looking for new people to join us, and we don’t just need actors.
You can find more details about being part of the EDS on our 'taking part' page.