Castle Schönbrunn, Theatre

Schlosstheater Schönbrunn

Vienne, Autriche

Since the 17th century occiasional drama performances took place in the park of Schönbrunn, but there was no permanent building until Empress Maria Theresia commissioned Nikolaus Pacassi to construct the Palace Theatre.

It opened in 1747 in the western side wing of the Palace where then the empress watched her children dance, perform and stage tableaux vivant.
When Napoleon established his headquarters in Schönbrunn, the theatre was renovated. It reopened in 1809 with Racine’s „Phaedra“.

At the time of the Congress of Vienna singers of the Kärntnertor theatre performed there for the royal majesties then present in Vienna.
The theatre was used during the summer months under the reign of Ferdinand I when the Burgtheater (court theatre) performed mainly comedies.

An electric lighting system was provided for the theatre in 1898, when electricity was introduced into the Palace for the first time.
In 1929 the Palace theatre was handed over to the Max‐Reinhardt‐Seminar (Academy for Performing Arts) and since then has been used as a rehearsal stage throughout the academic year, from October to June.