Isolation, madness, and supernatural horror: With "The Shining," Theater Regensburg brings Stephen King's famous thriller to the stage as a gripping opera. The story of a family in the remote Overlook Hotel develops into an intense psychological drama between reality and supernatural threat.
Deep in the mountains of Colorado lies the remote Overlook Hotel. Jack Torrance moves into the empty building with his wife Wendy and son Danny to work as caretakers during the winter months. At first, the hope of a new beginning seems within reach—but the isolation and the hotel's dark past quickly begin to take their toll.
Jack, who is trying to overcome his alcohol addiction, is increasingly haunted by inner demons and memories of his violent father. At the same time, his son Danny discovers a special ability: a mysterious form of clairvoyance that hotel chef Mr. Hallorann calls "the shining." Through this gift, Danny soon realizes that sinister forces are at work in the Overlook Hotel and that the family is by no means alone.
What began as an attempt at a fresh start increasingly develops into a struggle for sanity and ultimately for survival. Past and present, reality and the supernatural become increasingly intertwined, while the hotel itself becomes a threatening presence.
American composer Paul Moravec transformed Stephen King's bestseller into an opera thriller with haunting musical language. Contrasting soundscapes reflect the two levels of the plot – the everyday and the supernatural. Moravec developed individual leitmotifs for each character, even for the hotel itself, which interweave throughout the story. The opera premiered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 2016 and now brings the famous horror story to the stage as an intense piece of musical theater.
Premiere May 9,
Additional performances: May 31, June 7, 13, 24, 27, and 30, July 8, 11, and 15, 2026
