BURGTHEATER

“If it’s performed in Vienna, it will surely be the biggest theater scandal of the Second Republic!” When Elfriede Jelinek announced her then-newest play, a “wicked farce with songs,” in 1981, not even she suspected that BURGTHEATER would establish its reputation as a “traitor to its own nest” even without the originally planned premiere at the Burgtheater. A famous family of actors, whispers and murmurs in murderous art language: For the Swiss director and Vienna Festival director Milo Rau, to whom Jelinek has now exclusively granted the rights for a late Burgtheater premiere, these will be just some of the starting points for a larger scenic panorama: public life and adaptation, history (of the Burgtheater, of the theater and of Europe), fascism and repression.

A co-production with the Vienna Festival
Duration and intermissions: 2 hours 15 minutes - no intermission

program

Burgtheater
nach Elfriede Jelinek in einer Bearbeitung von Milo Rau und Ensemble

Place

Wiener Burgtheater – The Stage of Great Drama and Timeless Classics

The Wiener Burgtheater, often referred to as Austria’s "first stage," is one of the most prestigious and influential German-speaking theaters in Europe. Founded in 1741, it has shaped the theatrical landscape for centuries, standing for artistic excellence, literary classics, and contemporary productions.

Located on Vienna’s Ringstrasse, the Burgtheater is not only an architectural masterpiece but also a place where great playwrights such as Goethe, Schiller, Shakespeare, Arthur Schnitzler, Thomas Bernhard, and Elfriede Jelinek come to life through groundbreaking performances. With its renowned ensemble and innovative direction, the theater masterfully combines tradition with modernity, captivating thousands of theatergoers every year.

Getting There by Public Transport

Subway:

• U2 – Rathaus station (approx. 5-minute walk)

• Lines 1, D, 71 – Rathausplatz/Burgtheater stop
• Lines 2, 46 – Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring stop

• Line 13A – Theater in der Josefstadt stop (approx. 10-minute walk)