Our favorite Viennese theater away from the mainstream

Founded in 1932, the studio theater finally arrived in Burggasse 71 in 1990. Incidentally, a historic location: in 1904 one of the first light theater was created here. In 2020 it looked briefly as if the studio theater had to close its gates forever due to the Corona crisis. But a year later it could open it again with new operator. As usual, contemporary pieces, concerts and a wide variety of progressive performances are on the program. For example, once a month there is a completely freely improvised musical and there are always burlesque shows.

Also thatPlace of scopeis located in genre-related, time-honored halls: Here the Erika cinema, the "oldest continuously played cinema in the world" from 1909 to 1999. In the meantime, one is devoted to both the former cinema hall, which serves as a theater room for a maximum of 126, as well as in the studio with a maximum of 30 seats with a strong focus on literature and the literature Schauspiel itself. Clear focus of the productions is on sociopolitical content, both in dealing with new dramas and texts by the classical theater. Here the theater visit goes far beyond shallow sprinkles and stimulates the heads to think.

The house of theScala TheatersIt was already a lot: what is the stage room today was the Atlantis cinema for over 40 years, then a discotheque, supermarket and boxing club. In 1995, the ensemble "Theater Zum Fürcht", led by director Bruno Max, converted the premises for her home base in Vienna. Here you get contemporary theater, innovative concepts and a colorful mix as a classic and modern offer. Above all, however, the large ensemble is committed to its political and commercial independence. In addition, the underground theater Scalarama is now also belonging to the repertoire.

It is undeniable that theater has a political dimension. TheKosmos Theatersets this focus a little more concrete: it sees itself as a feminist theater house, which deals with role models and gender stereotypes and promotes female voices. On the stage, contemporary pieces, initial and primeval performances as well as productions from the free scene are primarily on stage.

Formally Known as Werk X, the two locations (Kabelwerk and Petersplatz) of the cult theater have been under the leadership of Esther Holland-Merten since last year. The venues make a name for themselves with the usual contemporary productions and courageous performances. The "On The Edge" Festival, for example, focuses on experimental circus art in November. You should definitely keep an eye on the game plan of both houses!

In New York, in addition to Broadway, there is also the off-broadway, i.e. the venues and productions away from the mainstream. In Vienna, too, the Free Theater is called off-theater, and with theOff TheaterIt has a venue of the same name in Kirchengasse. The varied program provides you with modern productions of innovative theater -creating and aspiring ensembles, such as Bernhard.ENSEMBLES, which founded the OFF Theater 2006 and set up its home base here.

A good 20 years ago, Gabriele Weber founded the Delphin association, originally for her mentally and physically severely disabled son Nico. In the meantime, it has long since become a permanent institution in the Vienna theater landscape. Here is not sheared over a comb, but has been dealt with individual strengths and skills. In the inclusive productions, people with and without disabilities stand together on stage and celebrate the professional theater and life in its different forms.

>> Read more: Our report on the Delphin Theater

Of course, the big stages such as the Burgtheater also master the progressive, contemporary theater. In addition to some productions in the castle and academy theater, the best example of this is, above all, that evenings inCasino on Schwarzenbergplatzthat belongs to the Burgtheater. Free theater ensembles put themselves in hand with performance-creating and musicians. So it is of course obvious that iconic festivals such as the pulse dance festivals throw their parties here and their performances let the audience flash.

The still relative new theater around actor Alexander Pschill makes the 9th district around a progressive stage. In front of the only 80 seats, the audience is mostly served here and produced pieces, also liked to improvise and always in the eye with a decent shawl. Because here you will mostly get handles in the strange subject, or as it says on the website so aptly: "exquisite progressive boulevard".

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What is the name of the same? Shouldn't you praise the day before the evening? An evening inTAGIn any case, it rarely does without praise. In the theater on Gumpendorfer Straße you are not afraid of the large, dramatic templates that you skillfully transmit to the here and now. The three to five in-house productions per year are supplemented by improvisation theater evenings and international host productions. We are particularly large fans from Diana Köhle diary, who always sweeps across the stage here.

DieTheaterArcheIn the sixth, it sees itself as an interdisciplinary theater area, which should enable open cooperation and inclusion at all levels. Here, too, in -house productions with guest performances and cooperation from the free scene change. If you are looking for diversity and openness, you are definitely the right address here.

DieDrachengassehas long been a fixed in the contemporary scene. You see yourself as a demanding theater, but it should still be accessible to everyone. Here you will find primarily new authors and aspiring theater makers.