Regina Toepfer

• This article focuses on the mediality of the Donaueschinger passion play, oscillating between textuality and performativity, rituality and theatrality. It argues that the play is composed as a reading text, regarding the speech, style and the narrative, poetological and exegetical character of its stage directions. In spite of its being intended to be read the passion play exhibits theatralic and liturgical elements, that allow to identify its literary genre. The detailed description of décor and actions on stage and even of the audience helpsThis article focuses on the mediality of the Donaueschinger passion play, oscillating between textuality and performativity, rituality and theatrality. It argues that the play is composed as a reading text, regarding the speech, style and the narrative, poetological and exegetical character of its stage directions. In spite of its being intended to be read the passion play exhibits theatralic and liturgical elements, that allow to identify its literary genre. The detailed description of décor and actions on stage and even of the audience helps to imagine a performance, that exceeds the textual status of the manuscript. The text's performative dimension invites the reader to participate in contemplating Christ's passion and in worshiping him.…