Schubert Theater: dolls and people in a unique symbiosis!

Schubert Theater: dolls and people in a unique symbiosis!

The Schubert Theater at Währinger Straße 46 in Vienna has established itself as an extraordinary stage, where actors and dolls conquer the spotlight together. Theater director Simon Meusburger describes the theater as a "off-broadway" and emphasizes the importance of the puppet show, which is often considered child-friendly in Austria. Since its foundation in 2007, the theater has specialized in figure and puppet theater for adults. The combination of life-size dolls and actors ensures a unique theater experience, in which the dolls are often more in focus than the actors themselves. Meusburger informs that in the current season under the motto "layer by layer" a variety of pieces are presented that deal with various periods of history, including the current Habsburg trilogy, which celebrates its premiere in the coming March.

technology meets theater

As part of the innovative "Future Labs", the Schubert Theater also devotes itself to the challenges of the digital world. One of the most exciting developments is a piece that was written by a AI system based on the fairy tale "Pinocchio". Meusburger describes that the audience only found out at the end that 70 percent of the text came from a machine, which caused a surprising turn. With this approach, the theater wants to redefine the boundaries of traditional performance art. As Meusburger notes, between 120 and 150 pieces are listed per season, and many are their own productions, such as an adaptation from the universe of "Blade Runner".

At the same time, the Latvian National Opera in Riga, which is considered one of the oldest cultural institutions in Latvia, maintains a tradition that has been revised and modernized several times. Since it was founded in 1923, there have been over 200 demonstrations per season in the Opera House on the Asphazijas boulevard, which offer a balanced mix of opera and ballet. The roots of the Latvian opera go back to the 18th century, as musical performances in the Duchy of Kurland took place. Since its inauguration as an urban German theater, the building of the Latvian National Opera has fulfilled a significant story in 1782, which also includes the famous composer Richard Wagner.

The Schubert Theater shows in cooperation with other institutions, such as the Latvian National Opera that classic and innovative forms of the theater can still reach a wide audience.