By Anke Zimmer - Originally published on 07.02.2026 in the Fuldaer Zeitung
Photos: Sophia Walkenhorst
Musical fans are eagerly awaiting new plays from the spotlight forge, and this time it's particularly special. Because at the beginning of June, „Der Schimmelreiter“ celebrates its world premiere at the Fulda Castle Theater. As the title suggests, a horse plays a mysterious role in the play. And this stage animal has now arrived in Fulda. Or to be more precise: the triplets have arrived.
Hauke Haien sits on his chair at the side of the rehearsal hall. He still doesn't have much of Theodor Storm's dyke count about him, which is why we prefer to call him by his „civil“ name for now Sascha Kurth. The singer and actor laughs ... „still“, as he says. Because soon he has to get on the horse. On the mystical white horse. With which he will ride across the stage of the Fulda Castle Theater this summer. And the animal is not exactly small.
Kurth is the leading actor in the new spotlight musical, with which composer and lyricist Dennis Martin is fulfilling a long-cherished dream and infecting fans of his plays and fans of one of the greatest novellas in German literature with his anticipation. „Der Schimmelreiter“ by Theodor Storm, the story of the dyke count Hauke Haien, celebrates its world premiere on June 5 at the Schlosstheater Fulda. And right from the start Martin and spotlight producer Peter Scholz promised that the animal in the title would not be a projection, but a life-size, fully mobile puppet.
Roger Titley from South Africa has come to Fulda with the horses. The artist has brought three white horses for the dyke count. „Artist“ - the term is not comprehensive enough. Designer and doll constructor? No better. In English he is called a „creator“, but the German translation „Schöpfer“ is rather religious. Well then.
Titley is in Fulda for a few days, not (only) to see how the three horses get used to the spotlight rehearsal hall, but above all, of course, to train the puppeteers who will breathe life into them on stage. Which sounds easier than it is.
But more on that later. First, let's stay at the side of the dyke count Sascha Kurth. The key question: Tell us, Hauke, how do you feel about riding? „Experience on horseback - that was part of the job advertisement,“ he flirts, but immediately adds: „No, nonsense.“ Does he have any? „Of course I did. When I was eight or nine years old, I once sat on a horse on vacation.“ And how was it? „Rather inglorious.“ And he laughs again. Incidentally, he is not yet allowed to get into the saddle on the back of the main white horse when we visit the „stables“. This is because the safety precautions have not yet been worked out. After all, we don't want the headline „Hauke Haien falls off his horse“.
The main white horse, as we have just called him, is the puppet that will be seen most often on stage. Horse number two is the backup, so to speak, and the third in the group cannot be ridden, says Peter Scholz. They are all unexpectedly flexible. The joints, the front and hind legs, the rump, the neck, the ears, the tail. Scholz is in a good mood: „Maybe the white horse will drop a few horse droppings?“
The animals are not motorized, but muscle-powered. There are two people in the torso who carry the puppet on their shoulders. Their front and rear legs are moved using levers that look like ski or walking poles when at rest. Marta Di Giulio has tried it out. She is an associate choreographer in spotlight's „Schimmelreiter“ creative team and works closely with director Simon Eichenberger. „It's just crazy what has to be taken into account to make the animal walk as naturally as possible,“ she explains. „But it's also so great to see how it all works.“
Incidentally, the two puppeteers who carry the animal load during our visit are part of the dance ensemble. They know what physical exertion means. The effort of being part of the white horse is obvious to them. Musculoskeletal system - the technical term takes on a new meaning for them. Eight legs have to be coordinated. Peter Scholz reveals that professional „puppeteers“ are yet to join the team.
A third person leads the horse by the bridle, and in many scenes this will be Hauke himself. Sascha Kurth has obviously picked up this „job“ very quickly. Not only does he give the commands during a short tour of the arena - „steps to the right, turn, we're going on“. He is also responsible for the movement of the white horse's head, for startling it when Marta Di Giulio claps, for looking to the side with ears pointing forward, the gentle approach of the horse to the human, nostrils ahead. „When I think that I have to play and maybe sing on stage at the same time, it makes me feel different.“
The horse's head leans cautiously towards the dyke count, as if the animal is trying to calm him down. Two have found each other! Composer Dennis Martin agrees, fascinated by the way the two are already interacting with each other. He and director Eichenberger had previously only seen Titney's white horses on video calls. „But face to face, they look completely different.“ You can't say ’eye to eye’ yet. Because the puppets are currently still in their raw state.
While the horses are being moved, Eichenberger works together with the set designer Charles Quiggin on the laptop. The revolving construction that will be used for the musical is set up. And at the very back, currently still covered in black, „our LED wall will be there,“ says Dennis Martin. „Among other things, this will put the horse in a completely different light. It will be mystical!“ No question: the white horse is out of this world. Just like Storm...
Roger Titley gives Sascha Kurth lots of tips on the day of our visit, demonstrates the mechanics of the horse to the photographer and finds time for a short interview in between (see opposite page). Finally, he makes a wish for his three gray horses: „Please love them.“ Because horses that are loved are stroked and groomed. And whoever comes across the triplets in the rehearsal hall that day doesn't stop and runs their hand over their soft fur, cuddles them and caresses them.
The coat is still snow-white at the moment. But no self-respecting white horse is so spotlessly clean. And certainly not one that will stand up to wind, storms and superstition alongside the dyke count Hauke Haien.