Schauspielhaus Graz

What Schauspielhaus Graz does

Schauspielhaus Graz is a municipal theater located in Graz, Austria, operated as part of the Bühnen Graz organization — Austria's second-largest opera and theater complex — alongside Oper Graz and NEXT LIBERTY. The institution produces and presents contemporary German-language drama across a portfolio of four performance spaces: the main Schauspielhaus, the Schauraum (alternative space), the Konsole (intimate experimental venue), and the Redoutensaal. Its repertoire spans classical adaptations (Goethe, Kafka, Ionesco, Shakespeare, Molière) to contemporary works and world premieres, with recent seasons featuring productions such as 'Die Waffen nieder!', 'ФielfölkaŠtát', 'Undine geht', 'Mein Jahr der Ruhe und Entspannung', and 'Echtzeitalter'. The theater also operates the Digithalia festival for virtual and immersive theatrical forms, curated by the artist duo F. Wiesel (Hanke Wilsmann and Jost von Harleßem), and runs mixed-reality installations combining VR technology with theatrical experience.

The business model rests on a mix of ticket sales, subscription revenue, ancillary services, and public subsidy as a state-funded cultural institution. Standard ticket prices range from €5 to €97 depending on production and seat category, with reduced rates for students, the unemployed, seniors, and people with disabilities, plus a 'pay what you can' option at €16. The 2026/27 season subscriptions (Abos) offer up to 25% discount on regular ticket prices and guaranteed access to new productions without queuing, with subscription tiers ranging from €7.5 to €67. Distribution runs through the centralized Ticketzentrum of Bühnen Graz for advance booking and same-day box office sales. Marketing is conducted via the venue's own website, newsletter, and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), supported by press coverage in regional Austrian media.

Audience development is treated as a strategic function, with structured outreach programs including school partnerships (Schule), youth access (U27 under-27), accessibility services such as audio description for visually impaired audiences (Theater für alle), and a Freundeskreis (Friends Circle) donor/community program. Co-productions with Schauspielhaus Wien, Katona József Theater Budapest, Steirischer Herbst, Kunstuniversität Graz, and Theaterakademie LebensGroß anchor the programming model, alongside collaborations with the Institut für Medien, Politik und Theater for documentary theater projects. The institution does not disclose revenue, and as a municipal entity it is not publicly traded or venture-backed; governance sits with the City of Graz and Styrian state cultural authorities.

Name

Schauspielhaus Graz

Legal name

Schauspielhaus Graz

Website

https://schauspielhaus-graz.buehnen-graz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1774

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Schauspielhaus Graz is a municipal theater in Graz, Austria, operated under the Bühnen Graz organization, presenting contemporary German-language drama and world premieres across four venues and the Digithalia digital-theater festival for general, youth, and accessibility-focused audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI)

Keywords

• Contemporary theater productions
• Performing arts venue
• Theater subscriptions
• Digital theater formats
• Theater education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Schauspielhaus Graz is a municipal theater producing and presenting contemporary German-language drama across three performance venues (Schauspielhaus, Schauraum, Konsole), with a season program of premieres, revivals, and guest performances. It sells tickets and season subscriptions, runs the Digithalia festival for virtual theater forms, and operates outreach/theater-education programs for schools, young audiences (U27), and inclusive audiences.

Product overview

Schauspielhaus Graz is a municipal theater in Graz, Austria, operating as part of the Bühnen Graz organization. The institution offers a multi-venue theatrical experience through its main stage (Schauspielhaus), alternative space (Schauraum), and experimental venue (Konsole). Key offerings include seasonal productions, the Digithalia festival for virtual theater, ticket sales with various subscription options, and extensive outreach programs. The theater focuses on contemporary drama, classical revivals, and innovative digital theater forms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schauspielhaus (Main Stage) The main theater venue of Schauspielhaus Graz, hosting the primary stage productions and premieres of the season for general adult audiences.
• Schauraum An alternative performance venue within the Schauspielhaus Graz complex, featuring experimental and contemporary productions.
• Konsole A smaller, more intimate performance space featuring digital and experimental theater forms, including mixed-reality installations.
• Digithalia Festival Festival for virtual theater forms Graz, curated by Artist duo F. Wiesel (Hanke Wilsmann and Jost von Harleßem), exploring digital and immersive theatrical experiences.
• Ticket Sales & Season Subscriptions (Abos) Ticket purchasing and subscription services for theater productions, including various subscription packages (Premieren-Abo, Dienstag-Abo, Mittwoch-Abo, etc.) sold via the Bühnen Graz Ticketzentrum.
• Outreach & Theater Education Programs Theater pedagogy and community outreach programs including school partnerships, accessibility services such as audio description, and audience development initiatives for young and inclusive audiences.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Theaterakademie LebensGroßminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2027Cooperation partner for 'Geht Gras fühlen! Oder: Eliza' - collaborative project with theater academy participants
• Theater im BahnhofminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2026Co-production with local Graz theater for '183 Abgeordnete' production
• Schauspielhaus WiencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2026Co-production partnership for 'ФielföلkaŠtát' and 'Chronik der laufenden Entgleisungen Austria Revisited' - joint productions with combined ensembles from both theaters
• Katona József Theater BudapestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2026Co-production partner for 'ФielföلkaŠtát' - international coproduction bringing Hungarian perspectives to the stage
• Steirischer HerbstcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2026Annual cooperation partner for contemporary arts festival - multiple co-productions including 'Sonne/Luft', 'ФielföلkaŠtát', and 'Chronik der laufenden Entgleisungen'
• Kunstuniversität Graz (KUG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 February 2024Ongoing cooperation with the Institute for Acting - student productions, collaborative projects with Schauspiel students including '28 Milliarden', 'Geht Gras fühlen! Oder: Eliza', and 'Drama | Tisch'
• DRAMA FORUM GrazminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 February 2024Cooperation for 'Drama | Tisch' - Shared Reading series where playwrights test new material with theater professionals and future audiences
• Oper GrazcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth part of Bühnen Graz organization - co-productions including 'Der Bürger als Edelmann' (Le Bourgeois gentilhomme) ballettkomödie performed at Opernhaus
• F. Wiesel (Artists in Residence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist duo Hanke Wilsmann and Jost von Harleßem as Artists in Residence - developing theatrical forms of digitalilty, created 'Flintridge' mixed-reality installation and multiple productions including 'Echtzeitalter'
• Institut für Medien, Politik und TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective developing documentary theater at intersection of theater and journalism - created the 'I AM FROM AUSTRIA' five-part infotainment series

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schauspielhaus Wien: Vienna's contemporary German-language drama theater and active co-production partner with Schauspielhaus Graz. Closely aligned in programming philosophy, ensemble model, and audience demographic.
• Oper Graz: Sister venue within the same Bühnen Graz organization, presenting opera and ballet. Directly comparable as a co-producing partner with shared infrastructure, ticketing, and audience.
• Berliner Ensemble: Historic Berlin theater at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, focused on German-language drama with strong contemporary repertoire. Comparable in repertory model and municipal ownership.
• Burgtheater Wien: Austria's premier German-language repertory theater based in Vienna. Most directly comparable as the flagship national theater counterpart to Schauspielhaus Graz, sharing the same repertoire tradition, public funding model, and audience segment.
• Münchner Kammerspiele: Renowned Munich-based theater known for experimental and contemporary German-language drama. Comparable as a municipally funded theater with strong international co-production activity and reputation for innovative programming.
• Schauspielhaus Zürich: Switzerland's leading German-language theater based in Zurich. Closely comparable in city-tier scale, repertoire mix of classics and contemporary works, and public funding structure.
• Theater Basel: Swiss-German theater combining Schauspiel, Oper, and Ballett in a tri-genre model similar to Bühnen Graz's structure. Comparable in multi-venue programming and bilingual audience reach.
• Thalia Theater Hamburg: One of Germany's leading German-language repertory theaters, recognized for contemporary programming and international co-productions. Directly comparable in artistic ambition and audience scope.
• Deutsches Theater Berlin: Major Berlin-based German-language repertory theater producing contemporary drama and classics. Comparable in scale, repertoire breadth, and municipal/state funding model.

Regional players

• Steirischer Herbst: Graz-based annual contemporary arts festival and core programming partner with Schauspielhaus Graz. Comparable as a regional player intersecting in performing arts programming but operating on a festival rather than repertory model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SchauspielhausGraz
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchauspielhausGraz
• Instagraminstagram.com/schauspielhaus_graz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schauspielhaus Graz