Vienna is celebrating Duras: the world premiere of the thrilling MUSÉE DURA is finally here!

Vienna is celebrating Duras: the world premiere of the thrilling MUSÉE DURA is finally here!

There is a new beginning to celebrate in the heart of Vienna: The Vienna Festival Weeks in the MuseumsQuartier the focus is on a very special theater evening. On June 21, 2025, the audience will experience the premiere ofMUSEUM DURA, an insightful production based on the texts of the French writer Marguerite Duras. The film is directed by the talented Julien Gosselin, who is already known for his gripping realizations.

Marguerite Duras, who was born in 1914 and died in 1996, always knew how to explore complex themes such as love and violence in her works. A sense of darkness and intensity permeates many of her stories. Duras would have celebrated her 111th birthday this year, which further seals the performance as a tribute to her extraordinary life's work.

Dramatic revival

MUSÉE DURA is more than just a play; it is a Duras marathon consisting of eleven shorter works. Each piece lasts less than an hour and is performed by fifteen young actors. Audience members are invited to attend the performance for two or more hours and are free to come and go as they please. The Vienna Festival Weeks describe the production as an experience that powerfully addresses the essence of love and violence.

The pieces are divided into five sections. The first block offers the introductory piece “The Man in the Hallway,” which is narrated by an impressive monologue, followed by the autobiographical flashback “The Lover,” which takes up Duras’ youth in Indochina. The technical production uses microphones and living video walls that visually highlight key elements of the stories.

Artistic interaction

The collaboration between Julien Gosselin and his ensemble of fifteen actors promises to illuminate the dark and painful aspects of Duras' work. The middle section of the performance includes a shortened version of the piece “Savannah Bay” and is visually supported by filming staff. The audience can look forward to a dark atmosphere and a mystical ending - a significant departure from previous productions, such as those starring Hilde Krahl.

This in-depth approach, as in Theatine film described, reflects the social relevance of Duras' writings and makes it clear that even in a modern production, the power of her themes remains. Duras' most famous works are very popular not only in literature, but also on the stage, and this event impressively revitalizes the writer's influence.

With MUSÉE DURA, the Vienna Festival promises an unforgettable journey through Marguerite Duras' world, which will captivate the hearts and minds of the audience with every performance. It is an event that attracts theater lovers and the curious alike and marks Duras' brilliant return to the Viennese stages.