Michael Mendl
as Merlin
Michael Mendl´s stage career began already at the age of 14, when he started as extra at the state theatre in Mannheim. After the stage training at the Folkwang School in Essen, engagements followed at theatres in Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Munich and Hamburg.
In the middle of the 70ies he made first experiences with television productions like “Derrick”, “Der Kommissar” or “Der Alte”. After 25 years of stage experience he gave his movie debut with the film “Leise Schatten” for which he received the Max Ophüls award, in 1992. Since that time the character actor was part of many outstanding productions: as general of the artillery Helmuth Weidling in the movie “Der Untergang”, as pope John Paul II in “Karol Wojtyla – Geheimnisse eines Papstes” or as Willy Brandt in the production “Im Schatten der Macht”.
For his performance he received several awards, e.g. in 2004 the “Goldende Kamera” as best German actor for his role as Willy Brandt.
In EXCALIBUR Michael Mendl will be live on stage - impersonating the wizard Merlin. With his powerful voice and his capturing acting performance he will lead through the whole program.
Feuervogel
The company “Feuervogel” is an international Action theater group, created by the talents of dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers and musicians. The performers use highly developed stilts that allow beautiful flowing movements in the form of dance as well as highly trained skills as jumps, leaps and even somersaults. In this way they create a truly unforgettable experience that captures the audience and carries them off to a magical and fantastic world.
The art of “Feuervogel” follows the beauty of myths and fairy tales.
“Feuervogel” inspires the audience far beyond the German border – they have been to e.g. Taiwan, Egypt and Luxembourg and enriched events like the “Reichstagsverhüllung” in Berlin. Furthermore they are regular guest at the “Kaltenberger Ritterturnier”.
In EXCALIBUR Feuervogel will enchant the audience with its unique mixture of dance, spectacle and acrobatics.
Simone Heitinga
Simone Heitinga started with artistic gymnastics at the age of 6. She won gold medals in several Dutch Championships. Later she took classes in classical ballet, jazz ballet and belly dance. In 2007, she discovered her passion for aerial artistic.
Simone works solo, but also joins international companies like “Theater Feuervogel”. This season she will be working with “Cirque du Soleil”.
Anelia Janeva
Anelia Janeva was born in Bulgaria and studied classical dance at the renowned “Staatliche Balletschule Berlin”. She danced in her early career different roles in the famous ballets “Swan Lake”, “Romeo and Juliet” as well as “The Nutcracker” in and near Berlin.
In the course of her 16 years of dance experience Anelia has developed a unique individual dancing style which merges elements of classical as well as modern dance. This singularity has brought her soon onto the big stages of the world: Until now she has danced for stars like Shakira, Katy Perry, David Garrett, Anastacia, Ich&Ich and Sasha. She has also performed for big shows like the MTV Music Awards, the ECHO and the Bundesvision Song Contest.
Various national and international tours (like the “Best of Musical” tour or the Helene Fischer tour) as well as numerous appearances in different dance theatres, operettas and musicals contributed to her wealth of experience that guaranteed her a place as member of the jury for the Swiss TV show “Masters on Stage”.