Oberammergau has a good 5000 inhabitants. About half of them take part in the play: in speaking roles, among the crowd, in the choir, in the orchestra, backstage. So at least every second person in town takes part, organising their life every tenth year in such a way that there is enough time for the theatre. The fact that there aren’t more isn’t because of a lack of motivation.

I am a guest in Oberammergau, among the men and women of the place. They receive me warmly, answer my questions openly, tell me about their Passions and their lives. And yet it is clearer to me here than anywhere else that I am an outsider. If I were to move to Oberammergau today, I would only be able to perform in the 2050 Passion Play. Because strict performing rules regulate who is allowed to participate – and who is not. Now, I am only here as a guest and harbour no such ambitions. But those who move here to live are no different. They are outsiders for a very long time. So where do the strict rules come from? Do they need them? And what exactly are the rules?

The...