What travel has taught me: Frederik Mayet, actor

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This was published 4 years ago

What travel has taught me: Frederik Mayet, actor

By Julietta Jameson
Frederik Mayet will play Jesus in the 2020 Passion Play, held once a decade in Germany.

Frederik Mayet will play Jesus in the 2020 Passion Play, held once a decade in Germany.Credit: Janie Barrett

INSPIRATION

My first visit to Jerusalem really inspired me and helped me understand the role that I play in the Passion Play. History comes to life in this city of three religions existing side-by-side: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Jerusalem breathes spirituality and this connected me to the context of the play. Interestingly, the once all-Catholic cast of the play now includes a Muslim and some Lutherans from our village. This somewhat confusing city, both modern and ancient, surprises you as it's not what you would expect of a place steeped in holy sites.

MEMORY

Childhood holidays were some of the happiest moments of my life. Most of mine were spent at our holiday house over the border at Lake Maggiore in Italy. I loved the summer walks around this expansive lake and into the verdant forests. It was here that I first encountered a different culture and cuisine. Cradled between castles and churches against the azure sky, this is an area to visit all year round but particularly off-season.

SERENITY

Living in Germany and being an avid snowboarder, I am lucky to be close to some of the best slopes in the world. Zipping down mountains admiring the frosted trees and heading off-piste are, for me, quintessentially peaceful experiences. I remember lying down in the snow against a backdrop of sun and crisp blue sky in Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak, and trying to hear a noise. I waited but to no avail. Mountains are magic and Zugspitze is serenity itself whether you're hiking or boarding.

TOGETHERNESS

I've been travelling to Dubai since I was 10 and have been there more than 20 times because my best friend moved there. I've watched this city transform itself from traditional to modern in an amazingly short time. Visitors often don't notice all the different nationalities who live in harmony in this Arab city. Perhaps it is a little bit artificial, but I am impressed by how the inhabitants have come together to make this the vibrant place that it is.

SIMPLICITY

A couple of years ago I went on a group campervan trip though Spain to Sagres in Portugal. Being cooped up in a small space for five weeks turned out to be a wonderful experience. Forced to reduce our belongings to the absolute essentials, we discovered the joys of shopping for local, fresh products such as shrimps, olive oil and fruit. From our base in a nature park, we strolled kilometres of empty beaches and other places without many tourists. When we returned to our home in Germany, we felt overwhelmed by the abundance of possessions and space. Portugal is a great destination for getting in touch with the simple things in life.

Since 1634, the town of Oberammergau in Germany's Bavarian Alps has hosted a once-a-decade performance of the Passion Play. The 2010 edition drew more than half a million spectators. Those filling the 2000 stage, orchestra and technical roles must be born in Omberammergau or have lived there for 20 years. Omberammergau-born Frederik Mayet works in theatre in Munich and is one of two men playing Jesus across five 16-act performances a week, from May 16 to October 4. For tours that include tickets, see gocollette.com

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