A new wind in the Josefstadt Theater: Rötzer is planning radical changes!

A new wind in the Josefstadt Theater: Rötzer is planning radical changes!

The Viennese theater landscape is facing a significant upheaval. At the Theater in der Josefstadt, Marie Rötzer will take over the artistic direction, after Herbert Föttinger has previously wielded the scepter. The handover of the directorship is planned for mid-2026. But that's not the only change coming to the stage.

Rötzer has already planned a lot. She will replace around a third of the existing ensemble, which means that 18 of 48 actors will probably no longer be employed. It has announced that it will cut 16 positions, while negotiations are still ongoing on two additional contracts. What is positive, however, is that 28 artists from the current ensemble will remain, and 12 new talents will join in the coming season. These measures are part of a larger restructuring that was made necessary by, among other things, previous reforms and a drastic reduction in performances - from 800 to 550 per year - as MeinBezirkt reports.

Resources and challenges

The ongoing inflation also makes it necessary for Rötzer to reorganize staff positions. The Theater in der Josefstadt is therefore facing challenges that are also typical for many other theaters in Austria. The decline in public subsidies and rising costs are making it difficult to maintain balanced financial management, which is also fueling public debate about supporting cultural workers. The Wiener Nachrichten has pointed out that cultural spending for public theaters is over 50%, while independent theaters only receive a modest 5-15%.

The exchange and networking of venues is also very important in the industry. Theater management plays a central role here in order to give equal consideration to artistic and business aspects. Different management approaches, such as personalized (directorate) or team-oriented (directorate), significantly influence the scope for the development of theater programs, as already described in Wikipedia.

Opinions and outlooks

Föttinger, the current director, expressed his incomprehension about the non-renewal of long-time dramaturg Christiane Huemer-Strobele, but accepts the need for restructuring. However, Rötzer is certain: Even under her leadership, the Theater in der Josefstadt will remain a distinctive actors' theater that will continue to develop in a contemporary manner and delight the audience.

The coming months until the handover of responsibility are crucial for Rötzer's artistic vision, which not only has to deal with the challenges of the operation, but also with a clear idea of ​​the future direction of the theater. The focus will now be on how the ensemble and the entire house will develop during this transition period.