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.
- Roisin Turley-Gibbon
Celtic Feet Dance and Theatre Company
In 1987, Celtic Feet was established as the live performance group of the Marion Turley Academy of Irish Dance. In June 1996, due to extensive media coverage and the increasing popularity of Irish Dance, The Celtic Feet Irish Dance and Theatre Company was formed. Just eighteen months later, Celtic Feet's full scale dance and theatre show was launched. After a very successful tour of England, the show went on to sell out in Denmark, Finland, Belgium, France and Germany, with the company having performed at many of Europe's most prestigious venues. As well as theatre shows, Celtic Feet also specialize in providing entertainment for corporate events all over the world.
The female lead dancer and choreographer of the Celtic Feet Dance and Theatre Company is Roisin Turley-Gibbons, who became World Irish Dance Champion five times .
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”.