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The Burgtheater is one of the most important theatres in the German-speaking world, and the choice of its director at any given period always arouses much political and cultural passion. Premieres of traditional as well as modern plays are closely scrutinized by the public, triggering either enthusiastic or dismissive reactions (see p85).

Built in 1788 following the design of Josef Kornhäusel, the theatre was entirely rebuilt in 1822 and reopened with a musical piece by Beethoven, composed for the occasion. It is still very popular today, specializing in classical plays by Austrian writers.

Whereas the Burg, being the Court Theatre, has always been the stage for classical drama, the Volkstheater, or People’s Theatre, has aimed at making modern and classic literature accessible to a broader audience since its foundation in 1889. With nearly 1,000 seats, the Volkstheater is among the largest in the German-speaking world (see p104).

The Akademietheater is part of the Konzerthaus building (see p60). Initially it functioned as the training stage for the nearby Academy of Music and Performing Arts but in 1922 it became the “small” venue for the Burg-theater ensemble. Mainly classic modern plays are staged here.

The Schauspielhaus offers a multifaceted programme that includes literary readings and light operas as well as contemporary drama. Since its foundation in 1978, the theatre has seen many Austrian but also world premieres, particularly by the Austrian dramatist George Tabori (born in 1914). It is also one of the many venues for productions by the Wiener Festwochen, Vienna’s most important theatre festival (see p80). Being fairly small, the audience has the advantage of being very close to the actors.

The theatre is named after the Austrian playwright Ferdinand Raimund (1790–1836), as the theatre opened its gates with one of his popular plays in 1893. The Raimundtheater has always specialized in music – after a period of operettas, today it is mainly used as a stage for musicals.

Vienna’s English Theatre was founded in 1963 and is the oldest English-language theatre in Continental Europe. It was initially intended as a summer venue for tourists but soon extended its programme year-round. The stage has attracted world stars such as Anthony Quinn and Judi Dench to its successful productions.

The 515-seat theatre was built in 1910 and was first known as the Residenztheater. It is closely connected to the Theater in der Josefstadt and actors usually perform in different plays in both venues. The Kammerspiele’s programme is made up entirely of comedies.

This is a small and intimate stage, located in a former officers’ mess of the imperial army that was adapted as a Burgtheater venue in the 1990s. Its programme includes contemporary plays for a young audience, often followed by debates and talks with the actors.

The Rabenhof was constructed as council housing for workers in the 1920s and an assembly hall for the workers’ union was built in the basement. This was adapted into a theatre between 1987 and 1992. Today there is a colourful programme of modern plays, comedies and other performances.