Christoph Krutzler, an internationally acclaimed actor, is returning to his native Burgenland as the new artistic director of adult theater at the Burgenland Cultural Centers. Governor Hans Peter Doskozil welcomed the new appointment as a "strong cultural and political signal for the future of theater": "I am convinced that Christoph Krutzler, with his experience, his artistic signature, and his connection to Burgenland, will provide fresh impetus and further develop the theater landscape in a sustainable manner."
Krutzler himself sees the task as a labor of love: "As a native of Burgenland, working for Burgenland is a matter close to my heart. I want to create a theater that belongs to the people—accessible, sophisticated, diverse, and rooted in the region." Starting in the 2026/27 season, he will be responsible for the adult theater program at the Burgenland Cultural Centers. His concept combines in-house productions, carefully selected guest performances, cultural education, school partnerships, amateur theater promotion, and co-productions—all with the aim of establishing a clear Burgenland theater profile.
The first season under Krutzler's direction presents two in-house productions: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Faust – Part One" and "Nincshof," the stage adaptation of Johanna Sebauer's debut novel, which won several awards at the Bachmann Literature Competition. The program is complemented by guest performances by prominent Austrian actors. All productions will be shown in both the north and south of Burgenland to ensure comprehensive cultural coverage. The content ranges from intelligent contemporary theater to heartwarming Christmas stories and large-scale shows.
Governor Hans Peter Doskozil welcomed internationally acclaimed actor Christoph Krutzler (right) as the new artistic director of adult theater at the Burgenland Cultural Centers. © Landesmedienservice Burgenland/Stefan Wiesinger
A key concern of the new management is the expansion of theater subscriptions. These provide planning security for the festival audience, promote loyalty to the cultural centers, and enable the sustainable implementation of high-quality productions. Theater is thus further anchored as an integral part of cultural life in Burgenland.
Governor Doskozil emphasizes that Burgenland consciously promotes the performing arts as part of its basic cultural provision: "We focus on quality, regional roots, and international perspective, and our sustainable funding policy ensures low-threshold access to art and culture." Around 213,000 euros were available for the promotion of the performing arts in 2025.
The Landestheater der Autorinnen und Autoren der Theaterinitiative Burgenland (Burgenland State Theater of Authors) is making a special mark, gaining nationwide attention with successful productions such as "Die Retter – Rohonczy, Kautz, Niczky" (The Rescuers – Rohonczy, Kautz, Niczky) and "Der hölzerne Reifen – Die späte Heimkehr des Herrn Glück" (The Wooden Hoop – The Late Homecoming of Mr. Glück). Under Krutzler's leadership, the combination of tradition, regional roots, and artistic innovation remains a central goal.
With Christoph Krutzler at the helm, the Kulturzentren Burgenland is entering a new era: a theater that is locally anchored, sophisticated, and internationally oriented—a vibrant center for the performing arts for all Burgenland residents.
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